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PROPOSITION 144; PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION BY THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO ELECTION REQUIREMENTS Official Title: AMENDING ARTICLE VII, CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA, BY ADDING SECTION 19. Descriptive Title: REQUIRES ALL VOTERS, INCLUDING VOTERS WHO VOTE BY MAIL, TO SHOW GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID TO VOTE IN EACH ELECTION; MAKES OTHER CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE PROHIBITIONS. Ballot measures approved by Arizona voters are difficult to change. Constitutional amendments can be changed only if voters approve another constitutional amendment. Voter-approved laws are protected by Arizona’s Voter Protection Act, which prohibits the Legislature from repealing them and allows amendments only with a three-fourths vote of each legislative chamber when the amendment furthers the measure’s original purpose.Impact on ArizonansA YES vote would amend the Arizona Constitution to require government-issued identification each time a voter casts a ballot, including when voting by mail. This would change the identification requirements for Arizona’s widely used mail-voting system, currently used by more than 80% of voters, with the specific process for providing identification to be established by the legislature. It would require voters to have the option to have their ballot tabulated at their voting location on Election Day; prohibit foreign nationals from contributing or spending money to influence Arizona elections; establish a constitutional standard governing election laws, including laws concerning early and mail voting; and require the Legislature to provide funding needed to implement the measure. The new provisions would apply beginning January 1, 2028.A NO vote would leave the Arizona Constitution unchanged and maintain current constitutional provisions governing elections. Existing state and federal election laws would continue to apply, including current requirements governing voter identification, voting by mail, election administration, and restrictions on foreign-national election spending.Background Proposition 144 (HCR2001), referred to voters by the Arizona Legislature, would amend the Arizona Constitution. Officially titled the “Fast Accurate Secure Transparent Election Results Act,” it would take effect for elections beginning January 1, 2028. The measure was revised several times during the 2026 legislative session, with some implementation details left to future laws. Arizona already limits voting to U.S. citizens and requires identification for in-person voting, while mail ballots use other verification procedures. Federal law also restricts certain foreign-national election spending. Proposition 144 would place requirements directly in the Arizona Constitution addressing citizenship, government-issued voter identification, foreign-national election spending, Election Day ballot tabulation, and standards for election laws. Key ProvisionsOnly U.S. citizens may register and vote in Arizona elections, and those elections must be decided solely by the votes of eligible U.S. citizens.Require every voter to show valid, government-issued proof of identity before casting a ballot in each election, whether voting in person, by mail, or by another method. The procedures for meeting this requirement would be established by law.Prohibit foreign nationals from contributing or spending money or anything of value to influence an Arizona election. It would also prohibit anyone from knowingly accepting such contributions.Require that all voters be given the option on Election Day to have their ballot tabulated at their voting location, under procedures established by law.Allow the people and the Legislature to enact laws governing elections, including early and mail voting, when those laws are rationally connected to a legitimate state interest. The measure identifies timely and accurate election results, efficient election administration, election security, and public confidence in election integrity as legitimate state interests.Require the Legislature to provide the money necessary to implement the measure. If one provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions may continue in effect.Fiscal Analysis The Legislature would be required to appropriate funds necessary to implement the measure. State and local election costs could increase or decrease depending on implementation and changes in how voters cast their ballots. A significant shift to in-person voting could require additional polling locations, staffing, and equipment, estimated at $2,700 per new precinct per Election Day and $8,000 in one-time equipment costs. Reduced mail-ballot costs could offset some expenses. Additional costs could include updates to voter-registration and election technology systems, administrative changes, and potential litigation expenses. For more information:Official Ballot LanguageArizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee: NonePublicly filed arguments forPublicly filed arguments againstDownload 2026 BALLOT PROPOSITIONS: MEET VOTE411LWVAZ nonpartisan guide to all the 2026 ballot propositions