Phoenix, Ariz.—Politicians that work to repeal Arizona’s Clean Elections system may pay a price at the ballot box, according to polling released today by the Arizona Advocacy Network and national campaign finance watchdog Public Campaign. Sixty-six percent of Arizonans oppose repeal and 52 percent are less likely to vote for someone who supports repeal.

“Arizonans like the Clean Elections system and politicians will face trouble with voters if they try to repeal it,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, the firm that conducted the polling. “Clean Elections has broad and deep support around the state and across the political spectrum.”

Key points:

• Voters overwhelmingly support Clean Elections—by a five to one margin, or 77% to 14 percent. That support is strong among Democrats (80%), Republicans (74%), and Independents (79%)

• Nearly two-thirds (66%) of Arizona voters oppose repealing Clean Elections.

• The survey also shows that politicians may pay a political price for supporting repeal. Forty-five percent of Independent voters would be less likely to support a candidate that favors repeal of Clean Elections. Republicans (47% would be less likely to support a candidate) and Democrats (64%) agree.

Full poll results can be found online at www.publicampaign.org/polls/arizona2011.

“People like Speaker Kirk Adams or Senate President Russell Pearce are ready to hand over our political system to the highest bidder, but Arizonans clearly aren’t,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network. “Voters stand firmly with Clean Elections and the Senate should have second thoughts on its final vote today to send a repeal measure to the ballot.”

The Arizona Senate may soon make a final vote on SCR 1025, legislation that would send a repeal of the popular and successful Clean Elections system to the ballot.

Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey, (of 500 likely 2012 voters in Arizona) which was conducted by telephone using professional interviewers between April 13 and April 17, 2011.  The margin of error is +/- 4.4%.

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Public Campaign is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to raise the voice of everyday Americans through common sense reform of the way our elections are financed. Learn more at www.publicampaign.org.

The Arizona Advocacy Network promotes social, economic, racial and environmental justice by connecting and building power among activists and leaders in those fields, and by leading efforts for electoral justice and increased civic participation. Learn more at www.azadvocacy.org.