BY LINDA BENTLEY | DECEMBER 1, 2010
Counties ready for recount of Prop. 112
First recount of statewide ballot proposition in Arizona’s history
PHOENIX – Following the official canvass of the General Election, representing the certification of state and federal election results, Secretary of State Ken Bennett was granted a court order allowing an automatic recount to proceed for Proposition 112.
Prop. 112, probably one of the most misunderstood of all the ballot propositions, failed by vote of 792,825 to 792,697, or 128 votes, well within the 200-vote margin to trigger a statutorily mandated recount.
Prop. 112 originated as House Concurrent Resolution 2018, proposing to amend the section of the Arizona Constitution relating to initiative petitions.
If passed it would “require that initiative petitions be filed at least six months before the date on which the measure will be voted ...”
Under current law, initiative petitions must be filed at least four months before the date on which the measure will be vote.
In other words, those taking on the daunting task of collecting enough signatures to get their initiative on the ballot would have their time shortened by two months.
After reading the ballot arguments in favor of Prop. 112 (there were none in opposition), many of our readers seemed convinced passage would provide two additional months to collect signatures, when in fact the opposite is true.
It would provide an additional two months for those who wish to review and challenge the petitions in court at the expense of those trying to collect enough signatures to get their initiatives on the ballot.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig issued the order Monday afternoon with a directive for counties to complete their recount activities by Dec. 15.
Oberbillig is scheduled to certify those results at a hearing on Dec. 20.
Bennett stated, “Together with county election officials, we’ve been in preparations for this recount since the days following the Nov. 2 General Election when it became apparent that a recount may be necessary,” adding, “I’m confident that the recount can be conducted quickly and accurately, bringing finality to the Proposition 112 results.”
