Arizona Republicans are hoping a potential ballot measure to crack down on unauthorized immigration will draw their voters out to the polls.
The state Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to approve a ballot measure that would make being in Arizona without legal status unlawful as part of state law. If the measure makes the ballot for November, some think it could motivate GOP voters to turn out, much like the likely ballot amendment to enshrine abortion rights is expected to drive Democratic turnout.
“With the amount of public frustration around the immigration issue, it’s like trying to put a hook in water to draw voters towards the immigration narrative,” said Chuck Coughlin, who leads the Republican-aligned consulting firm HighGround in Phoenix. “The House and Senate majorities [in the state Legislature] want to build a narrative, something that’s on the ballot that they can talk about, that can drive those dissatisfied voters to polls.”