In Arizona we elect one Senator and two Representatives from each legislative district, but it wasn’t always that way. The Legislature spent decades trying out different systems with the goal of achieving the most equitable representation in the state legislature.
When delegates met at the Constitutional Convention in 1910 to draft a state Constitution, they did not draw legislative districts. Instead, they used the most logical political subdivisions for representation: the counties. The Constitution set the number of representatives and senators from each county. Article IV, Part 2, Sec. 1 (page 8 of the PDF) stated:
While the delegates attempted to fairly balance the population and the number of voters in each county, African Americans, women, and Native Americans were not eligible to vote.¹
A voter initiative changed the provision in 1918, but it was only slightly less confusing. The Senate would continue to have 19 members, with one or two elected by each county, depending on its population. The number of members in the House of Representatives would increase, with the intent to make representation fairer. Each county would now elect one representative for each 1500 votes “or major fraction thereof” cast in the last election for Governor. Creating districts of 1500 voters was meant to ensure that elected representatives would be known to everyone in their districts. In every county eligible for more than one representative, the Board of Supervisors was to divide the county into legislative districts. The districts were to be compact in shape, not to include non-contiguous areas, and have the same voting population. This ballot begins on page 38 (of the PDF) of the full initiative and referendum publicity pamphlet from 1918.
One of the arguments in favor of the ballot proposition pointed out that it would be more feasible for women to be elected as representatives. The authors argued (page 42 of PDF):
There were no statements filed in opposition to the ballot proposition, which passed decisively: 17,564 to 10,688.
In 1932, another ballot initiative passed, changing the size of districts from 1500 citizens to 2500, thereby reducing the number of members of the House of Representatives from 64 to 37. The initiative also reduced the pay of all legislators from $15.00 to $8.00 per day, limited the number and pay of legislative “attaches” to $5.00 a day, and limited the number of days of legislative sessions (page 22 of PDF).
A group that called itself a state-wide Legislative Economy Committee proposed the initiative and filed an argument in support of the measure (page 25 of PDF). It summarized the cost-saving measures of the proposition and touted that it would save the state $60,000 in salaries! There were no arguments filed in opposition. Unsurprisingly, it passed by a wide margin: 56,182 to 29,806.
1953 brought another proposition to the ballot, this time referred by the Legislature. It proposed that the Senate would be comprised of 2 members from each county elected at large. The House of Representatives was reorganized again. A representative would be selected for each 3520 ballots cast in the last election in each county, for a total of 80 or fewer House members. The Boards of Supervisors would draw the district lines.
Proponents argued that the proposition, patterned like the federal system, would more fairly represent the population in each county. Opponents objected to allowing small counties to send two Senators to the state legislature. The publisher of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, ripped the proposal:
It passed by just 444 votes: 30,157 in favor versus 29,713 opposed.
In 1968, a referendum changed the composition of the state Legislature again, identifying 32 districts and specifying that each district would elect one Senator and 2 Representatives. After every census and every four years after the general election the Legislature would review the districts and make necessary changes. An apportionment committee would be appointed if the Legislature failed to act. One of the opponents was State Senator Bob Stump, who later represented Arizona in Congress for 26 years (page 55 of PDF):
Despite Senator Stump’s opposition, the measure passed 210,262 to 148,424.
The system we have today was established by referendum in 1972. It established 30 legislative districts. One Senator and two Representatives would represent each district. It passed resoundingly: 308,801 in favor to 162,550 opposed (page 33 of PDF).
All legislative terms are two years. Your legislative district will select one Senator and two Representatives to the state Legislature this year. The deadline to register to vote is October 5, 2020. The election is November 3, 2020. For information on voting and the election, visit the Arizona Secretary of State’s website.
Footnotes:
¹ African Americans were granted the vote in 1870 by the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Arizona women got the right to vote after Statehood, by an initiative in the general election held on November 5, 1912. Native Americans became citizens, eligible to vote in federal elections, in 1924. They became eligible to vote in Arizona elections in 1948.
The Shining S.T.A.R.L. 