With the upcoming election, it is important to know how the ballot will affect the Brophy community.
Soon, Arizona voters will vote on 13 proposed measures. Some of these upcoming ballot measures have been met with extreme controversy. They also have picked up critiques from members of the Brophy community and the Catholic Church.
These measures range from changing the minimum wage for tipped employees to abortion. Most of them address policy changes, including property tax refunds. In this article, I discuss Propositions 139, 313 and 314, which were chosen for this article based on their controversial nature.
Proposition 139:
This proposition seeks to push back the abortion cutoff date. Abortion has been an issue for many years now, but with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, it has made its way onto Arizona’s ballot this upcoming election.
Currently, abortion is illegal after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Under A.R.S. § 36-2151, Doctors are allowed to perform an abortion after the legal cut-off date in cases of medical emergency. More information on the current law can be found on the Arizona Attorney General’s website.
If Proposition 139 is passed, it would move the legal date of abortion to 24 weeks, nine weeks later than the current deadline of 15 weeks. Under Proposition 139 patients would still be able to get abortions after the cut-off date in cases of medical emergencies.
In short, a vote yes to Proposition 139 puts the abortion date to 24 weeks while a vote no on Proposition 139 keeps it at 15 weeks.
Proposition 314:
This proposition seeks to create tougher laws on illegal immigration, fentanyl and submission of false documents. This measure has four main parts.
First, it would criminalize immigration through Arizona outside of legal pathways. First-time offenders would be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, while repeat offenders would be charged with a Class 6 felony.
Second, it would make it a state crime for someone over 18 who knowingly sold illegal fentanyl which took the life of a person. If found guilty, the offender will be charged with a Class 2 felony, which carries a minimum of 3 years in prison.
Third, it would make submitting false documentation to employers a Class 1 misdemeanor. A Class 1 misdemeanor would carry a maximum sentence of 6 months.
Fourth, it would make submitting false documents for public benefits a Class 6 felony. A Class 6 felony would carry at the very least 4 months in prison.
In short, if Proposition 314 is passed it would tighten laws on immigration and submitting false documentation.
Proposition 313:
This proposition seeks to make a mandatory life sentence without parole for the sex trafficking of children.
The current law in Arizona is that the offender is charged with a Class 2 felony. Depending on the circumstances, this would result in a sentence of at least 7 years with the maximum sentence of natural life in prison without parole.
If Prop. 313 is passed, it will charge every person convicted of sex trafficking of a child with a life sentence, no matter the circumstances.
In short, if Proposition 313 is passed it will create a mandatory life sentence for child sex trafficking.
