A poll released Tuesday found an overwhelming majority of Arizona voters back the effort that would allow state law enforcement to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, which will appear on the November ballot as a referendum titled Proposition 314.
The survey, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, found that 63 percent of Arizona voters support the referendum while just 16 percent said they were opposed. An additional 16 percent of respondents said they would not vote on the referendum, while 6 percent said they were unsure.
Support for Proposition 314 was consistent across political parties, however, with the highest level of support coming from Republicans.
Pollsters reported that 77 percent of Republicans said they would vote on the measure, while just 9 percent said they would vote against. Similarly, 57 percent of voters registered independent said they would support the issue, while just 16 percent would vote against.
Even a slim majority of Democrats, according to the data gathered by Noble Predictive Insights, support the referendum, with 52 percent in favor and 23 percent against.
In addition to empowering local law enforcement to deport illegal immigrants, the referendum contains provisions that are designed to strengthen E-Verify, prevent non-citizens from participating in Arizona welfare programs designed for U.S. citizens, and impose harsher penalties for fentanyl dealers if someone dies because of their product.
Pollsters found opponents are most concerned with restrictions preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining welfare, with 64 percent of those opposed to the referendum highlighting it as their primary reason. The survey additionally found that 47 percent were opposed to the efforts to strengthen E-Verify, and 31 percent were opposed to increased punishments for fentanyl dealers.
By contrast, 77 percent of those in support of the referendum cited the harsher penalties for fentanyl dealers. In comparison, 75 percent said they were in favor of strengthening E-Verify, and 56 percent said their support was tied to keeping illegal immigrants from receiving welfare benefits.
The objectives of the referendum were previously contained in a bill successfully passed by Arizona lawmakers when it was known as the Secure the Border Act. Governor Katie Hobbs ultimately vetoed it.
Lawmakers passed resolutions securing a place for the referendum on the November ballot in June.
In addition to the immigration referendum, voters in November will decide whether the Arizona Constitution should be amended to protect the right to abortion in an initiative opponents have labeled radical.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Illegal Immigrants” by Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin.
