Throughout the 2024 election, there were many propositions available to vote for in the state of Arizona. Props like 139, 311, and 313 all got voted yes. But what does this mean for Arizona?
Prop 139, the right to an abortion, was one of the few props voted yes during this election. Under this proposition, interference of abortion by the state is not prohibited before the point of fetal viability or the stage where a fetus can survive without being in the womb.
Before this prop was passed, abortion was legal for the first 15 weeks of pregnancy in Arizona. However, on April 9th of this year, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a law originally passed in 1864. This law made the procedure of abortion illegal, the only exception being the case of a life-or-death situation of the patient. “The law ordered prosecution for a person who provides, supplies or administers to a pregnant woman, or procures such woman to take any medicine, drugs or substance,” according to ballotpedia.com.
Another proposition, 311, refers to a $20 fine for any criminal facing a conviction. All of the money collected from the convicts will go to a $250 thousand dollar benefit to the families of lost first responders. The prosecutor may also increase the fee depending on the felony class the person commits.
What about small crimes, like petty theft? Some people charged with this offense are often stealing because of a lack of income. If that person is accused and found guilty, paying a $20 fine might not be possible. “While theft comes in all shapes and sizes, a quick review will show that some geographic regions are more prone to petty theft, shoplifting, and robberies than others. One thing these areas often have in common is poverty,” stated jdlaw.law. Inflation, the rising of prices, is still high in the country despite it steadily going down. With high prices, offenses like petty theft will only continue to grow in poverty-stricken areas.
Proposition 313 deals with the conviction of child sex traffickers. Citizens now convicted of this crime have a minimum sentence of life without possibility of parole, or supervised release.
Previously, a minor found guilty of this crime, aged 15-17, would receive up to 24 years for a first-time offense. If they were under 15, the minimum sentence would be 13 years. Now with Proposition 313, all people found guilty of child sex trafficking will receive an automatic life sentence, including minors.
However, the sentencing is a different case for pre-existing convicts. “For example, when marijuana was legalized, people who were in jail for marijuana could get out. But when you have a more strict punishment it’s then a different story to then go back and redo the punishment. So I don’t think it’ll impact people who have already been convicted,” says Melissa Zimmerman, social studies teacher. Though it will most likely not affect pre-sentenced convicts, should it? Lilly Bauckus, freshman, states, “I think they should serve the same amount of time, if they are going to convict new people, they should apply it to the old people too.” Even though the majority is in favor of this outcome, because of how complicated this crime is, it would be difficult to put every prisoner through trial again.
Another prop that got voted yes in Arizona was Prop 312, which allows homeowners to apply for a property tax refund, specifically if our city isn’t helping the needs of the homeowner. Prop 314 made immigrants going straight to the state from their home country using false documentation illegal. This would classify as a class six felony, and it would create a stricter process for people to get into our state, let alone our country.
