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Secretary of state hopefuls share views on registration, elections
ANNE BRADY
Associate Editor
Although in Arizona, secretaries of state have had a pretty good track record for becoming governors by default, the real job of the secretary of state involves supervising the state's voter registration and elections.
The two candidates for secretary of state in the Nov. 3 general election are incumbent Republican Betsey Bayless (who was appointed to the job by Gov. Jane Hull when she left the post to replace Fife Symington as governor) and Democratic challenger Art Hamilton (who spent 26 years in the state House of Representatives, including 18 as minority leader). Last week, Hamilton and Bayless responded to a few questions from Jewish News about their plans for the office should they be elected. Some of their answers have been abbreviated for space and fairness considerations.
Question: What ideas do you have for ways to increase voter registration and election turnout?
Hamilton: To provide Arizona voters with the opportunity to register, I would first protect our motor-voter laws from the critics who would abolish our current registration practices. I would investigate other avenues for providing Arizona voters with the opportunity to register. We can do more with our current Internet technology, and we can explore ways to disseminate voter information to people in the course of government business.
We need to address the problems that have driven voters away from the polls. Too many elections are decided in the primary, where a large portion of our population can't participate. I have proposed legislation to open our primary elections, and support the current initiative on open primaries. We need effective legislation to make the campaign process cleaner and freer from special-interest money. We have to restore people's faith in the political process.
Bayless: I am working with Rock the Vote and Valley Youth Leadership to encourage young people to register and vote. I see this as an extension of the Kids Voting program. Also, our office has been sending birthday cards to 18-year-olds to remind them to register. We have participated with companies, political parties and community groups with materials, manpower and technical advice for voter registration drives.
I have worked with minority groups throughout Arizona on voter registration and voter issues. I propose to conduct focus groups and research on the off-election year. Many members of minority communities have indicated the desire to participate in these efforts to encourage greater voter participation.
Question: Does Arizona need new legislative and/or congressional districts? If so, how would you go about preparing a redistricting plan?
Hamilton: The first step is to take the process of drawing districts out of the hands of the Legislature and put it into the hands of a bipartisan or nonpartisan commission, with the goal of making our elections more competitive. There are many models for redistricting commissions that we can draw from. The commission would ensure that the districts are designed to best represent the people and promote the competition of ideas. We also need to look at smaller districts that would allow for more local representation.
Bayless: The next census results will require new state legislative districts and the addition of one or possibly two new congressional districts for Arizona. I am not sure (whether) it is better to move from redistricting by representatives elected by the people to political appointees, as has been proposed. Perhaps there should be a blue-ribbon task force to look into this. Whether the redistricting is undertaken by a commission or by the state Legislature, or a combination of both, the Secretary of State's Office must be prepared to supply them with accurate voter registration information.
Question: How, if at all, would you use the office of secretary of state to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the administrative branch and/or to represent the State of Arizona?
Hamilton: I have spent 26 years with the Legislature and know the power and potential that exists in that branch of government. I would use my experience to promote and develop legislation that serves our goals of greater participation and open, fair and clean elections. I would continue my history of working for the betterment of all Arizona.
Bayless: Governor Hull has asked me many times to meet with foreign delegations and individuals, representing the State of Arizona. I have spoken frequently at official events when the governor could not attend. I would anticipate that I would continue this service. There are a number of statutes governing the Secretary of State's Office and changes in elections law that will be necessary in the near future. I believe it is appropriate that the secretary of state take the lead on these issues.
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