r/phoenix • u/AZ_moderator Phoenix • 4d ago
Politics Phoenix 2026 Election Megathread
Election day is coming up, so we're creating a discussion thread for questions about the propositions or other items on ballots.
You are welcome to share your views on any of the issues or candidates on the ballot for Valley residents.
Here are some links you might find useful:
Maricopa County - what's on my ballot
r/Tucson 2026 Election Megathread
If you have other links or info, leave them in the comments. We may add them to the original post.
Keep in mind that our political rules are in full force here, so only regular members to this subreddit will be able to comment. And any personal attacks on other users will result in a ban.
The purpose of this thread to to create a civil space to discuss the elections and trolls, fear mongering, or comments that offer little or no value will be removed.
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u/Stoney_McTitsForDays 2d ago
Ballot is in! My freshly 18 year old daughter got to vote for the first time too! š
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u/bartdhull 2d ago
Hope there is no more mistakes by Maricopa County elections board. The 3,000 or more early ballots mailed out early is a bad look for a elections staff that has called into question if previous elections were handled properly.
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u/Logvin Tempe 2d ago
Slight clarification: The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is one group, and the Maricopa County Recorder is another elected position. The Recorder's office is the one who keeps fucking up, which is led by MAGA and TP suported election denier Justin Heap.
The Board (which is majority GOP) does not get along with Heap at all, but since Heap was elected they can't do much about it.
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u/AnnaH612 3d ago
I got mine and Iām going to work on it tonight and this week. Iām super nervous.
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u/chronomega 3d ago
Filled mine out, hand delivered it off at a drop location yesterday, and had it certified at the same time.
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u/Logvin Tempe 3d ago
No reason to be nervous. If you don't understand something or have questions, post on this thread!
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u/AnnaH612 3d ago
There is a lot at stake and I cannot calm the nerves.
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u/Feralogic 1d ago
I understand your nerves! Filled mine out immediately. Returned it at a ballot drop-off. Tried the new "signature verified" option - a poll worker checked my ID. Ballot was recorded that night. (*There's an option to sign up for text alerts.)Ā
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u/AnnaH612 1d ago
Thank you for that. My plan is to fill it out over the weekend and drop it off at a drop off box. I need to find out how I can get verification that it was recorded.
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u/jmulldome Litchfield Park 4d ago
Ballot completed and dropped off yesterday.
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u/ImperialAgent Glendale 3d ago
where did you drop it off?!
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u/jmulldome Litchfield Park 3d ago
I work in Downtown Phoenix, and there is a dropbox at the Maricopa County Elections office (510 S 3rd Ave), and that's where I dropped it. There's also one at the City of Phoenix building (3rd Ave/Jefferson).
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u/Feralogic 4d ago
The best thing you can do is get your ballot in ASAP. The sooner it's recorded, they can allocate volunteer resources (like get out the vote stuff) to the remaining households that *haven't voted yet.
Check for a drop box near you. You can even show your ID at many locations and get your signature verified right there - which means your vote is counted even faster upon receipt.Ā
West Valley peeps - there's a very convenient early vote / drop box location just south of I-10. Tolleson Civic Center - Southeast corner of 91st Ave & Van Buren. Hours 9-5 extended to 9-7 after Oct 26th.
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u/borntorun61 2d ago
This should be the top comment. Resource allocation is so important, which means getting ballot in early is even more important
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u/Striking_Shock_9130 4d ago
If you're close enough to downtown, take it directly to the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) at 320 W. Lincoln St. The have a drive-up ballot box (enter the parking lot from 3rd Ave.).Ā
I received my ballot and dropped it off Friday the 9th. Received a text this morning that my signature was verified and my ballot counted. šš»
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u/Feralogic 1d ago
I dropped mine off at that location in 2020! The drive up drop box was super convenient.
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u/AlcibiadesTheCat 4d ago
Please, for the love of all that's holy, resoundingly vote NO on Prop 318.
Trans rights are human rights. These kids deserve to live normal fucking childhoods.
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u/Stoney_McTitsForDays 2d ago
Literally one of the most appalling props on the ballot. š£
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u/AlcibiadesTheCat 2d ago
Meanwhile Prop 317 is "anyone Jake Hoffman doesn't like is a SUPER ULTRA TERRORIST and AZDHS is ordered to use all possible authority and force to exterminate this radical super ultra terrorist threat"
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u/Sonoranpawn 4d ago
I've always voted by mail and haven't received my ballot yet. Should I be concerned?
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u/illiteratebeef Jigglypuffer 4d ago
Did you check your status and sign up for email and/or text updates?
https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/voter-dashboard-login.html
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u/Sonoranpawn 4d ago
my voter status is all good I signed up for email updates just now so thanks for the help
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u/OmegaRainicorn 4d ago
Why should I vote no on prop 316? Iām trying to figure out what Republican Snakey McSnake snuck in there.Ā
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Grocery Tax (316):
This is yet another attempt to harm cities governments. Cities can choose to implement taxes on groceries; some do, many don't. If you don't want your city to do this, the answer is to lobby your city council. Conservatives have always talked about "local control" and not wanting the Feds to come in and boss the state around: This is exactly what the state GOP is doing: capping a funding source for cities. The law does NOT ban cities from implementing grocery taxes, or take any away currently; it just prevents future possible grocery taxes.
I live in Tempe, and last year the legislature did something similar: they disallowed cities from taxing rentals. That blew $25M out of the Tempe budget, which is planned years in advance. This law was super harmful, as the bulk of people who rent live in cities... cities who tend to vote blue. This law is not about helping people. This law is about removing power and control from cities and consolidating it at the state level.
The Mayor of Bisbee said this:
Why should the state be able to tell local governments and their residents how much and how they are willing to be taxed to support their town? Let these decisions be made by the people that are affected, not by state representatives trying to make one size fit all municipalities.
I'm not a fan of grocery taxes. Here in Tempe we have Prop 424 which is increasing sales taxes by 0.5%. This is a tax INCREASE, and voters get to decide if we want it. This is the system working. I voted no.
But if this prop passes, it locks existing grocery tax percentages above 2%, and forces any attempts to raise to go to the ballot. It's not a tax increase. It's not a tax decrease. It's a red tape increase. It's not needed. That's why Katie Hobbs has vetoed it previously.
Really good resource here: https://weekly.cebv.us/arizonas-2026-ballot-propositions/
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u/LunarArboretum Midtown 4d ago
Progress Arizona actually recommends voting yes on this, despite many smaller cities relying on it and urging people to vote no. They argue itās a regressive tax that puts more tax burden on lower income residents.
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u/doctorelliot Sunnyslope 4d ago
When is the deadline to have an early voting ballot put in the mail? I'm considering dropping it off directly at a polling place but just don't want to wait too long.
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u/DOMEENAYTION 4d ago
Like wait too long in lines? They don't make you wait in line if you're just dropping off a mail in ballot. They have a separate box for those you can go in quickly to do so.
If you mean wait too long to miss mailing it in on time, you might need to look into it more. I'm not totally sure on the timeline either. I've been dropping off my ballots for a couple years now because I keep forgetting to mail it out.
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u/Narwahl_Whisperer North Phoenix 4d ago edited 4d ago
Check that your registration is still active:
https://my.arizona.vote/
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u/_Rooftop_Korean_ 4d ago
What are the reasons for a registration to become inactive?
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u/DesertDissident 4d ago
Election mail returned as undeliverable, USPS data indicating you have moved and didn't update your information within 35 days, got a driver's license in another state (and fail to respond to the residency notice within 90 days)
https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00166.htm
You can be removed from the active early voter list for neglecting to vote but your registration will still be active (they just stop mailing early vote ballots).
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u/Easy-Seesaw285 4d ago
And if you are on the permanent early voting list, your ballot was mailed last week.
If you dont have it, go to the maricopa recorders website and check the status
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u/DelirousDoc 4d ago edited 4d ago
Gavel Watch report from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting.
Has details on all the judges up for retention. You don't have to follow their recommendations but they highlight who appointed the judge, some of noted endorsements and if particular judge had a concerning ruling.
These judge votes matter.
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u/robodrew Gilbert 4d ago
Thank you I was just about to post this. Very very informative, if they have any issues with a judge it is spelled out why exactly.
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u/Decent_Risk9499 4d ago
When do we get to start using signs as skateboard ramps?
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u/elkab0ng Mesa 4d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/anCxx8NT76b58wz0fq
Public art spaces, my friend. Public art spaces.
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u/desertstar714 4d ago
Stop calling for my opinion. Im getting 3 calls a day.
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u/jackofallcards 4d ago
Iāve been reporting all calls and texts regardless of party. I originally registered as independent years ago, then switched to Democrat Trump Rd. 1 but I still get an awful lot of pro GOP texts and calls
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Ok everyone text /r/desertstar714 and ask their opinion on stuff. Got it!
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u/desertstar714 4d ago
Beef bacon is better then regular bacon and serives like healthcare and health insurance should be nonprofit.
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u/The_Flinx 4d ago
IDK how or why but my wife gets at least one a day from both sides. oddly she gets stuff about obama? like WTF he's not been president for YEARS. we couldn't figure out why her phone was running out of space even after deleting pictures and removing apps.
one day I went in to the spam and blocked folder and there were HUNDREDS of texts in there (some going back to 1-2025), only one third were ones she had actually blocked and reported as spam. it took me 2 hours to go through them to block and report all of them that were political.
weirdly I only get one or 2 a month and I am the primary on the account. my wife gets calls all the time. she blocks and reports them and they just keep coming.
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u/ctsjohnz 4d ago
Ive never gotten so many spam texts/calls in an election season
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u/PattyRain Mesa 4d ago
I'm getting a bunch of religious ones talking about praying over my ballot or voting so I give bibical values a voice.Ā
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u/MissionaryOfCat huhoohu 4d ago
I'm getting so sick of those fake-ass "Can you believe what my son just heard about Katie Hobbs???" texts.
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u/tiredofstandinidlyby 4d ago
I was hoping bombing the Russian Data center would stop these. But I guess it's local disinformation
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u/phuck-you-reddit 4d ago
It's insane all the shit I'm getting in the mailbox. And dozens of calls and text messages. I'm so fed up with all of it.
I want it all banned but dummies need to stop voting for the GOP.
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u/AlcibiadesTheCat 4d ago
My bf is a USPS rural carrier and he agrees with you.
He also would like to ask Secretary Fontes to please maybe make the ballots a little smaller, they just barely don't fit in the crates.
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u/DesertDissident 4d ago
dummies need to stop voting for
the GOPboth major parties7
u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
This message is sponsored by the GOP.
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u/DesertDissident 4d ago edited 4d ago
While it would be nice to get paid to say how much they both suck, no.
Democrats think people are "dummies" for voting Republican.
Republicans think people are "dummies" for voting Democrats.They're both right on that point when it's effectively a monoparty. Despite rhetorical differences, the major parties align on core issues more often than not.
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u/AlcibiadesTheCat 4d ago
One side: literal Nazis, with swastika tattoos, literal pedophiles, and corrupt billionaires
The other side: less-than-optimal politicians.
Oh yeah they're basically the same.
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u/Karlitos00 4d ago
It's more than rhetoric, they are objectively and by a large magnitude quite different. Living through Trump's 2nd term and saying "this is exactly what the Dems would have done" is quite asinine
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u/DesertDissident 4d ago edited 4d ago
Not sure why you're quoting "this is exactly what the Dems would have done" because that's not what I said.
But since I'm clearly wrong, I look forward to the Democrats solving all the problems when they return to power. I'm not sure why they didn't sort that out last time. Or the time before that. But I'm sure the next time will nail it. Or maybe the one after that. After all, they're just sooo much different than the GOP šš
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u/Karlitos00 4d ago
I never claimed Dems solve all problems, you were the one that claimed it's a monoparty and that their core beliefs are the same. This heavily implies that they would be doing the same thing as Trump right now.
you're using a strawman and a false dilemma fallacy
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
No, I'm saying the "both sides" argument is one that is pushed by the GOP. They actively push it as an excuse for them to trample on people or our rights. "Both sides do bad things so its ok for us to do bad things" is the underlying message.
It's not based in reality. Attend some meetings with your local LD Republicans and Democrats. They are absolutely not the same.
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u/DesertDissident 4d ago
The GOP is not pushing the narrative that the GOP is just as bad as their political opponents, that's silly.
Attend some meetings with your local LD Republicans and Democrats.
No thanks. I used to be a state committeeman and left because it was obvious how rotten the parties are from the inside out.
I have little love for Hillary Clinton but it was quite telling when she said, "Politics is like sausage being made. It is unsavory, and it always has been that way, but we usually end up where we need to be. But if everybody's watching, you know, all of the back-room discussions and the deals, you know, then people get a little nervous, to say the least. So, you need both a public and a private position."
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
The GOP is not pushing the narrative that the GOP is just as bad as their political opponents, that's silly.
Yes, they absolutely are. They do it constantly. They are not saying "GOP is the problem" they are saying "Well both sides need to turn down the rhetoric" when someone on the left is calling for an investigation and someone on the right is calling for murder.
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u/DesertDissident 4d ago
You recognizing that Republicans do that is partly why
Democrats think people are "dummies" for voting Republican
You not seeing how much Democrats also have a false balance is why
Republicans think people are "dummies" for voting Democrats.
You're both correct in that respect. And now we've come full circle.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
I don't think Republicans are dummies for voting Republican.
I think Republicans who vote for fascists are dummies because they are voting ignorantly against their best interests. There are plenty of Republicans who will be voting for Democrats this year. I don't think they are dummies.
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u/desertstar714 4d ago
When I keep getting asked about my opinion, Im like sir or ma'am have you looked around?
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u/tiredofstandinidlyby 4d ago edited 4d ago
Vote no on most of the propositions. They were written by Republicans. Cultural war BS with nothing to help the average person. No photo radar is cool and lower taxes on groceries is mostly good. But forcing trans kids to change in the opposite locker room is hatred only a Christian could love.
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u/Russ_and_james4eva 4d ago
No photo radar is cool
Photo radar saves lives, including many children & pedestrians.
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u/The_Flinx 4d ago
yup memorializing the moment the kids got run over. that sure stopped them. pictures don't stop anything.
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u/DelirousDoc 4d ago edited 4d ago
Grocery tax prop is going to severely hurt smaller cities who use sales tax for revenue. It has a provision that states even if those cities voted on say a 3% tax, they would not be allowed to pass it and retroactively takes place to make greater than 2% tax illegal from July 2025 and I am not sure how that is even going to work. It's a shitty prop.
Photo enforcement includes red light cameras and doesn't include flock cameras. It's a shitty prop.
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u/ComputerOverwhelming 4d ago
Raise taxes on other goods then, Groceries shouldn't be taxed it just hurts the poor.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Think logically here. If you were in charge, what would be the best way to handle this?
I would say you write a law that says "In 5 years we are outlawing grocery taxes in the state." This gives cities time to make alternative plans and prepare.
What is happening here is not ending grocery tax. It is capping it at 2%. It's not actually fixing the issue of hurting the poor, its just mildly reducing it.
If this passed, it handcuffs future AZ Legislators from writing a law banning grocery tax - the legislature cant write a law to modify a ballot referral after the fact.
This law does not help. It protects grocery taxes, it does not eliminate them.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Every state level proposal is written by the AZ GOP, receiver no votes from a single Dem, and was vetoed by Katie Hobbs. They are all culture war BS with hidden agendas.
NO on all statewide props.
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u/tiredofstandinidlyby 4d ago
What's wrong with the photo radar one? Or capping grocery tax?
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Photo Radar (Prop 319):
This bill was written by Wendy Rogers and Mark Finchem, two of the most wackadoodle MAGA idiots in our legislature. Wendy covers Flgastaff, Mark covers Prescott.
It would require municipalities that want to use photo radar to put it on the ballot every 10 years. Thatās all.
There are 6 municipalities who use photo radar today. All of them are in Maricopa County.
I wouldnāt want a lawmaker in NY or TX writing laws that only affect AZ, and I donāt want lawmakers in northern AZ writing laws that only affect Phoenix.
Why are they pushing this? 10% of photo radar fines go to the AZ Citizens Clean Elections Commission. Itās a huge funding source for them. They canāt kill the Clean Elections Commission because we created it in a citizen initiative years ago.
So they are attacking its funding sources to defund it.
The Clean Elections Commission currently has open investigations into Turning Point, Andy Biggs, Ralph Heap, Nick Myers, Kevin Thompson, and several sham candidates who were life long republicans and switched parties right before the filing deadline to āGreenā.
We already have a say in photo radar. City councils have to vote to use it. If you donāt want photo radar, contact your city. We donāt need another law restricting cities in Maricopa County being forced down our throat by MAGA traitors from Northern AZ.
Grocery Tax (316):
This is yet another attempt to harm cities governments. Cities can choose to implement taxes on groceries; some do, many don't. If you don't want your city to do this, the answer is to lobby your city council. Conservatives have always talked about "local control" and not wanting the Feds to come in and boss the state around: This is exactly what the state GOP is doing: capping a funding source for cities. The law does NOT ban cities from implementing grocery taxes, or take any away currently; it just prevents future possible grocery taxes.
I live in Tempe, and last year the legislature did something similar: they disallowed cities from taxing rentals. That blew $25M out of the Tempe budget, which is planned years in advance. This law was super harmful, as the bulk of people who rent live in cities... cities who tend to vote blue. This law is not about helping people. This law is about removing power and control from cities and consolidating it at the state level.
The Mayor of Bisbee said this:
Why should the state be able to tell local governments and their residents how much and how they are willing to be taxed to support their town? Let these decisions be made by the people that are affected, not by state representatives trying to make one size fit all municipalities.
I'm not a fan of grocery taxes. Here in Tempe we have Prop 424 which is increasing sales taxes by 0.5%. This is a tax INCREASE, and voters get to decide if we want it. This is the system working. I voted no.
But if this prop passes, it locks existing grocery tax percentages above 2%, and forces any attempts to raise to go to the ballot. It's not a tax increase. It's not a tax decrease. It's a red tape increase. It's not needed. That's why Katie Hobbs has vetoed it previously.
Really good resource here: https://weekly.cebv.us/arizonas-2026-ballot-propositions/
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u/ewire 3d ago
We donāt need another law restricting cities in Maricopa County being forced down our throat by MAGA traitors from Northern AZ.
Gonna have to disagree here. If Rogers, Finchem, or anyone else has an idea that I support, I am not going to vote against it just because I dislike who proposed it. That just sows more division. On the same note, if a politician I support has an idea I think is stupid, I will absolutely not support it.
Politics needs to be more about the ideas and their merits rather than the politicians. Being about the politicians themselves is, in my opinion, what got us where we are with MAGA and Trump's cult of personality.
We already have a say in photo radar. City councils have to vote to use it. If you donāt want photo radar, contact your city.
We tried. We didn't want it and had it removed 10 years ago, Phoenix decided to bring it back anyway. They literally just made this decision within the past year. I totally see your points, but I find it hard to believe contacting the city council would be worthwhile and am firmly in the camp of "the end justifies the means" on this one.
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u/Logvin Tempe 3d ago
Gonna have to disagree here. If Rogers, Finchem, or anyone else has an idea that I support, I am not going to vote against it just because I dislike who proposed it. That just sows more division. On the same note, if a politician I support has an idea I think is stupid, I will absolutely not support it.
I'm not telling you that. When I see a bill sponsored by some assholes, I spend extra time reading it and learning about it so I can figure out what their real motives are.
We tried. We didn't want it and had it removed 10 years ago, Phoenix decided to bring it back anyway. They literally just made this decision within the past year. I totally see your points, but I am firmly in the camp of "the end justifies the means" on this one.
That's not accurate. We banned photo radar on freeways and state-owned roads. There are 6 municipalities who have Photo Radar today in the state, the least amount in decades.
The ends here is not ending photo radar. It's creating more red tape for cities and defunding the Clean Elections Commission. This bill does not end photo radar at all!
I would support a bill that ended photo radar statewide and provided additional funding to compensate for the AZ Clean Elections Commission to continue it's work.
The Clean Elections Commission currently has open investigations into Turning Point, Andy Biggs, Ralph Heap, Nick Myers, Kevin Thompson, and several sham candidates who were life long republicans and switched parties right before the filing deadline to āGreenā. There is a reason the AZ GOP wants to defund the Clean Elections Commission, and its because they want to defund the CCEC, not because they care about our privacy.
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u/ewire 3d ago
That's not accurate. We banned photo radar on freeways and state-owned roads. There are 6 municipalities who have Photo Radar today in the state, the least amount in decades.
That's reasonable. I recognize there is more nuance to it and I admittedly oversimplified with regard to highways vs. city roads.
This bill does not end photo radar at all!
Also fair, but it does force cities to put it back to a vote next year. If I could do that by calling the council I'd be all for that too, but again I don't think that would bear any fruit. If I had a say in it before Phoenix put its current cameras up, I would have voted no even if all of the potential revenue went to something I support (and, to be clear, I am very much in favor of Clean Elections).
But I digress. I realize not everyone will agree with me on the idea of photo radar itself, and honestly I didn't really come here to argue the merits of the prop anyway. Really all I was getting at is I think it's counterproductive to dismiss an idea that you otherwise support merely because of the source, their motives, etc.
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u/Logvin Tempe 3d ago
Really all I was getting at is I think it's counterproductive to dismiss an idea that you otherwise support merely because of the source, motives, etc.
Well we are absolutely in alignment there, and I admittedly could have been more detailed in my comment about my position there to be more clear too. I don't dismiss because of the person, but the person does make me analyze it much more in depth.
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u/ComputerOverwhelming 4d ago
I don't think we should be taxing groceries personally.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Me either! But the answer is NOT to do an end run around the Gov and remove the ability of municipalities to handle their own budgets. The answer is to focus on real problems and let local municipalities decide if they want to tax it or not based on the feedback of the citizens in those municipalities.
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u/pi3r0gi_ Queen Creek 4d ago
So we dont want to cap it at 2% so cities can decided/keep their normal, likely lower, tax percentage? Am I getting it right? šµāš«
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
I'm not opposed to capping it at 2%, but if the goal is to reduce the tax burden of our poorest residents, we should cap it at 0% and give cities a ramp period to figure out how to budget around it.
Cities that want to raise taxes have to go through a LONG process to put it on the ballot and get people to vote for it. Those things can't just happen quickly. The budget hole the legislators blew from the rental tax removal hurt and is a great example.
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u/No-Owl-6246 4d ago
Photo radar results in decreased fatalities and this city has a major problem with red light runners.
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u/tiredofstandinidlyby 4d ago
The for profit companies that run the cameras can't be trusted. Last time they reduced the amount of time a light was yellow to catch more red light runners. If you want safer lights increase the amount of time both lights stay red. They are infinitely better ways to decrease fatalities with data that actually back them up. Camers are a cash grab and always have been.
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u/elkab0ng Mesa 4d ago
The timing of traffic lights is based on guidance in the MUTCD (manual of uniform traffic control devices) and uses a formula which is basically 1 second of yellow per 10mph of roadway speed with a minimum of three seconds even if the speed limit is lower.
Please just stop for red lights.
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u/illiteratebeef Jigglypuffer 4d ago
The timing is supposed to be based on the MUTCD, but there is literally nothing requiring it to be. There have been multiple studies showing that adding red light cameras magically caused the timings to be out of compliance in a way that makes intersections less safe and more profit generating.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Camers are a cash grab and always have been.
I watched the legislative session where the sponsor of this bill explained why she wrote it and why people should vote for it. She said "I think we can all agree that cameras are just a cash grab for the cities." and every republican stood and clapped in agreement.
Facts though... they are not. Most cities lose money on photo enforcement. They are not padding their pockets here. Are the for profit companies making a profit? Well yeah, thats what for profit companies do.
So ask youself... why would a city council vote to implement photo radar? If it drains money from their budget and plenty of citizens dislike it? What is the motivating factor for them approving these?
the answer: there have been multiple studies that back up that photo radar helps reduce fatalities.
My opinion on photo radar is mixed. I don't like it. BUT... city councils can't just sit on their ass and do nothing when citizens complain about traffic fatalities. Would ripping out every intersection and replacing it with a roundabout help? Sure! But thats not realistic.
Realistically, our options are hire more police or use photo radar. We are already vastly understaffed at every police agency, so its not like thats an easy thing to do. Plus the only thing photo radar shoots people with is a camera. Cops? Not so much.
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u/illiteratebeef Jigglypuffer 4d ago
So ask youself... why would a city council vote to implement photo radar? If it drains money from their budget and plenty of citizens dislike it? What is the motivating factor for them approving these?
Hey, this guy's never heard of bribery before.
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u/No-Owl-6246 4d ago
I trust the for profit companies running the cameras more than I trust Phoenix drivers who are trying to kill everyone else at every opportunity.
Cameras factually decrease fatalities.
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
I've seen studies that find speed cameras have no effect at all on safety, so if you have a source I'd like to read it. I don't like that we have private companies running these cameras with the blessing of the state and it feels more like a revenue source than a deterrent.
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u/Russ_and_james4eva 4d ago
You haven't seen those studies, because they don't exist.
What's happening is that you're misremembering studies that show that cameras increase or have no effect on the total incidence of car crashes, but almost always reduce serious injuries and death.
The literature is very clear on this.
2
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u/No-Owl-6246 4d ago
No you havenāt. Youāve seen studies that find cameras increase accidents, which conveniently is the only part of the study Redditors post. Those same studies then show that while they increased accidents, they decreased fatalities.
They increase fender benders, and decrease wrecks.
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
More rear-end crashes at intersections, fewer right-angle crashes in intersections is what I'm reading. So sure, fewer fatalities is obviously a net benefit.
However letting for-profit private companies send out state-endorsed fines (which is a huge cash cow lets not forget) isn't something I'm personally comfortable with. Just my 2Ā¢
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
However letting for-profit private companies send out state-endorsed fines (which is a huge cash cow lets not forget) isn't something I'm personally comfortable with. Just my 2Ā¢
A certified police offer is required to review every single ticket that goes out. Do they suck and send out plenty of oopsies? Absolutely. But lets not pretend that the cops on the street have a better track record.
Who is it a cash cow for?
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
Verra Mobility and the city both profit. Apparently Verra gets $3000 per month per camera, plus a small fee (~$20) for every ticket written goes back to this privately owned company. Tens of thousands of tickets have already gone out since March '26 in Phoenix alone with their 17 cameras.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
I'm confident the for profit companies are profiting, as if they were not they wouldn't be in business long.
Most cities have the cost of running photo radar being greater than the revenue they pull in. It's a net negative to the city budget, not a profit.
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
There is absolutely no way that is true. If the city is footing the bill for photo radar, but the ticket revenue [I'm guessing] goes to the police department, then it's a matter of allocation to different cost centers. Definitely isn't a net negative overall.
So maybe the city will say it's a loss, but the revenue is going elsewhere. At $250/ea, thousands of tickets paid, the math is obvious.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Buddy, city budgets are public. You can literally pull the data.
Your comment is "That doesn't sound right so I don't believe it". Actually do some looking into it before you guess at stuff and spread misinformation.
City of Phoenix:
The cityās official position is that the program operates on a cost-recovery model and generates zero revenue for Phoenix, and that any net funds will be reinvested in Phoenixās Vision Zero plan.
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u/redoctoberz 4d ago
don't like that we have private companies running these cameras
ALPRs like flock are not the same as the speed/red light camera boxes owned and run by the cities they are installed in. Those are just regular consumer DSLR style photo cameras hooked up to a special laptop.
I've seen studies that find speed cameras have no effect at all on safety, so if you have a source I'd like to read it.
very easy to find, google searches will help
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
With the rapid proliferation of flock (and axon/motorola) tracking cameras thrown on us already, how easy do you think it would be to start converting our speed/red light cameras to tracking cameras? Possibly just a matter of data storage and/or bandwidth from the cameras themselves.
Ask yourself honestly, how much effort would it take for photo-radar companies to start petitioning police departments to let them upgrade to tracking cameras, as they already have the infrastructure in place.
How about we let citizens vote on it, like the proposition implies? Wendy Rogers is a kook but this prop is a good idea IMO.
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u/Russ_and_james4eva 4d ago
how easy do you think it would be to start converting our speed/red light cameras to tracking cameras
A proposition can ban that specific interaction, there's a reason it doesn't. No need to throw the baby (fewer dead children) out with the bathwater (tertiary concerns about what happens if a city decides to ensure that the cameras take tens of thousands of photos every day).
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
I dont like speed cameras for many reasons, only one of which is the potential for tracking citizens. There is a point at which too many cameras and too many fines going out for every little infarction gets to be a joke and with the plague of ALPRs and that bullshit as well as the growing number of speed cameras, I'm all for a statewide moratorium on new speed cameras to let voters decide going forward.
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u/Russ_and_james4eva 4d ago
>too many fines for every little infarction
How many lights are you running lmao
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
They had 70,000 speeders in the first month they set them up.
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u/Russ_and_james4eva 4d ago
There are roughly 80 million commuter miles driven every weekday, roughly around 6 million trips. 70,000 speeders in a month is nearly nothing.
Edit, did some research - roughly 17.4 million - 18 million car trips are made each day in Maricopa County.
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u/redoctoberz 4d ago
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Flock/Axon doesn't have the key component of a photo radar system, that is, the actual radar part, in their portfolio.
How easy? It would be a matter of permits, funding, and decisions by the city council to shift from one equipment format to another. None of which is presently being imagined.
Of course the citizens should vote on it, that's why its a proposition. A prop which has nothing to do with ALPRs, now or in the future.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Of course the citizens should vote on it, that's why its a proposition
It's a proposition because every single Democrat Legislator in AZ voted NO, and they sent it to Gov Hobbs and she vetoed it. Multiple times.
It's a prop because the AZ GOP is doing an end-run around the Gov and tricking people into voting against their best interests. It's a very common thing with the AZ GOP.
Why not write a bill banning ALPRs? Why are they focusing on photo radar and not on the actual real present problem of ALPRs? Why did they specify in this bill that it does NOT apply to ALPRs?
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u/redoctoberz 4d ago
You're preaching to the choir.
I have none of the answers to your questions, sorry. I'm not the right person to ask those questions to. I would recommend talking with folks in the government about that.
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
None of which is presently being imagined.
10 years ago no one would have imagined we would have a privately owned $8+ billion dollar company harvesting and selling all of our movements. Yet 144,000 cameras later (and counting) here we are.
Of course you're right that this bill doesn't at all address the plague of ALPRs. Torturing a cliche here, but give them an inch and if there is enough money in it, they'll take miles.
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u/redoctoberz 4d ago
I was referring to the "being imagined" as in efforts for new legislature -- putting forth something for voters to vote on. Not people's imaginations about what could be or not be.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
We already vote on it. With our city councils.
I live in Tempe. We pressured the council into removing all ALPRs and they are finalizing an ordinance banning the technology for police use.
No state law is needed.
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u/sleepyj58 4d ago
I live in Mesa, and yes I believe a state law is needed. I'm glad Tempe actually listened to their constituents but in Mesa they haven't rolled back these bad decisions yet, if they ever will.
I'm getting off topic, as this bill isn't even about tracking cameras like another poster said. But the potential for more private for-profit companies generating money off of ticketing the public doesn't sit right with a lot of us.
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u/Haunting-Buffalo-909 4d ago
What if i do not want a biological boy in the locker room with my daughters? They have expressed concerns to me and do not want to participate in track because they are scared.
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u/Parkour_Parkour 4d ago
Where are your daughters getting this information? Are they observing it first hand or hearing from their peers or outside media? Have you talked to the coach? Do your kids know these kids personally? I get the concern for your daughtersā safety given the statistics about cis men assaulting women. But trans folks are much more likely to be assaulted if they use facilities that match their biological sex than cis girls are when trans folks use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity.
I canāt seem to paste a link here, but theirs a meta analysis you can look at by the Williams Institute titled āSafety and Privacy in Public Restrooms and Other Gendered Facilitiesā. Itās available for free and is a good place to start looking at statistical evidence. Moreover, talk to the coach and ask what they are doing to make sure EVERYONE feels safe.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
Has that happened? The GOP loves pushing these stories of men in girls lockerooms. What they donāt have is actual situations that this happened in.
This is a fear based tactic that they use to scare you into voting for them.
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u/Haunting-Buffalo-909 4d ago
Yes, there are to trans girls that go to the same school as my daughters. I am not a republican by any means, but to say its a fear tactic is crazy. My daughters are actually dealing with this!
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u/tiredofstandinidlyby 4d ago
Trans kids going to the same school has nothing to do with changing in the locker room. You're spreading the fear tactic. Stop it
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u/Haunting-Buffalo-909 4d ago
It is not fear, they share bathrooms. Why cant we have an adult discussion about this?
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u/Parkour_Parkour 4d ago edited 4d ago
We can, but itās important to understand that people are going to have strong reactions because of the incredible danger that trans kids and adults are in. I canāt link studies, but I posted another comment about a study by the Williams Institute. They have another study on violence against trans folks vs cis gender folks, and trans people experience violence at a disproportionate rate. With that in mind, people are rightfully terrified for our trans brothers and sisters right now and are going to react strongly. Adult conversations are going to involve strong feelings sometimes. Itās harder to do that over Reddit or other social media. Iām not trying to be mean or dismissive here. People are scared and angry, and for good reason.
Edit: Iām sure that some trans advocates would be more than happy to have a one on one discussion with you about your concerns and can provide more nuance than what youāre going to get on social media.
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u/tiredofstandinidlyby 4d ago
The fear is unwarranted because it's based on the idea that a person would go through all the hatred and meanness from ignorant people just to what, steal glances at girls?
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u/jpoolio 4d ago
How many post-transition kids are in the locker room?
There are 0 post-transition kids at my daughter's high school. ZERO! I don't even think this surgery is legal unless you're over 18.
This is a problem that no one has and is straight up fear mongering.
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u/Haunting-Buffalo-909 4d ago edited 4d ago
Does this apply to post surgery only? I am genuinely asking because I do not know. At my daughter's school there are two trans girls. Please do not call it fear mongering, a lot of girls have expressed concern over this and a dealing with it right now.
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u/jpoolio 4d ago
It really applies to no one because boys with penises wearing girl clothing are not changing with the girls.
Have you heard about the furries that pee in litterboxes? That's not happening, neither.
Some schools have gender neutral bathrooms. That's the accommodation.
And think about it- do you really a think a trans girl, with no boobs and a penis, would be comfortable changing in the locker room with cis girls? Do you have any idea how challenging it is to have gender identity issues? These kids have it hard enough without being ridiculed in the locker room as well.
The fact that people are making this a voting issue is wild.
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u/Haunting-Buffalo-909 4d ago
Bro, it is really happening, two trans girls are sharing the bathrooms at my daughters school. This is a real thing going on right now. They do not have gender neutral bathrooms.
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
So you started with changing in locker rooms and now you moved the goalpost to sharing a bathroom.
Tell your daughters that if another person is staring at them or doing an action that makes them uncomfortable, they should report it. This applies to kids with and without penises.
Your fear is pushing them to be afraid of things that COULD happen.
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u/The_Flinx 4d ago
I tried to find a ballot drop off and the maricopa website for that SUCKS it's hard to use and does not work right. I went to the closest one and there was no drop box anywhere. I even googled what they look like.
I didn't want to drive all over town looking for another one so I ended up going straight to the post office (wasn't open yesterday) and putting it in the mailbox outside where I think it got stuck deep in the opening which is apparently designed to limit the maximum thickness of something inserted (to 1 inch) and has little fingers that prevent you from pulling anything out.
so I have that going for me... which is nice.
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u/bagel_blight041 4d ago
Please consider dropping your ballot off at a ballot box near you vs USPS. Most locations open as of today.
https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/where-to-vote.html#In%20Person
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u/CornNut_ 4d ago
Has anyone who dropped off there ballot gotten an email it was confirmed yet? My wife and I got ours Friday, filled them out and dropped them off right after. I realize it was a Friday and the weekend happened but just curious.
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u/CornNut_ 4d ago
I got an email about 9:30am saying they got my ballot and about 11am saying my signature has been verified.
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u/bagel_blight041 4d ago
Dropped ours off yesterday but assuming due to Indigenous Peopleās Day that weāll be updated as of today.
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u/razikrevamped 4d ago
There's only one in Phoenix proper???? Wtf?
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u/Logvin Tempe 4d ago
No, the website sucks. If you choose āin personā and itās 6AM, well not many locations are open. You canāt say āI want to vote at 10amā. If you looked on the official site at 10AM you would see a lot more.
This situation happened to my wife and I. She said we had to drive downtown and Iām likeā¦ no.
Justinheapsucks.com lets you search by address date and time.
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u/BalanceOrganic7735 North Phoenix 4h ago
Is this where I would post a question about a specific Phoenix city council district race? If not, where would that be appropriate?