Teachers Union Accused of Using Felons to Gather Signatures for Anti-School Choice Ballot Initiative in Arizona

The Arizona Education Association and Save Our Schools Arizona submitted roughly 415,000 signatures for the Protect Education Act, a ballot initiative that would restrict Arizona's education savings account program, potentially removing at least 20,000 students. The Goldwater Institute is legally challenging the validity of over half the signatures, alleging widespread defects including signatures from non-registered voters, duplicates, and improper paperwork. Most controversially, the complaint details that paid petition circulators included individuals convicted of serious felonies such as manslaughter, kidnapping, human trafficking, and sexual abuse of a minor, including a Level 3 sex offender. If the challenges succeed, the initiative could fall below the required 255,949 valid signatures, potentially derailing the measure.