Clean Elections, Arizona’s nonpartisan election agency, unanimously adopted the first set of rules implementing the Voters Right to Know Act, or Proposition 211 at a public meeting today.

More than 70 percent of voters approved the act at the 2022 general election. The measure requires public disclosure of the major financial backers of large campaign media spends in Arizona elections. The initial rules became effective today.

Proposition 211 authorizes the Clean Elections Commission to make rules regarding implantation of its provisions. The Commission is a five-member, nonpartisan board that administrates campaign finance and voter education for Arizona.

The first set of proposed rules the Commission adopted include procedures to protect donors who believe they face harm from disclosure of their identities, notifying donors of their right to opt out of having their funds used for campaign media spending, as well as technical rules related to record-keeping and deadlines.

Next month, the Commission will discuss and consider adoption of a proposed rule about disclosures that will apply to political advertisementsin Arizona. This rule is about the disclaimers one typically hears or sees on campaign ads and mailers describing funding for the organization behind the ad. The next Commission meeting is September 21.

A second set of proposed rules relating to enforcement proceedings is also available for public comment and will be eligible for consideration after September 25.

Executive Director Tom Collins said that the Commission will likely begin discussion of comments it has received on this second set of proposals at its September 21 meeting with an eye toward October for possible adoption.

“We are pleased with the level of interest that these proposals have received and we look forward to continued feedback from the public and stakeholders,” Collins said.

The Commission takes oral comment from the audience (both in-person and via an online meeting platform) at its public meetings regarding rule proposals.

Proposed rules are available on Clean Elections’ website https://www.azcleanelections.gov/ rule-making. Comments may be made via the site or emailed to [email protected].

About the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (Clean Elections). The Citizens Clean Elections Commission was established by Arizona voters to restore citizen participation and confidence in Arizona’s political system, to improve the integrity of state government and to promote freedom of speech under the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions. Visit www.azcleanelections.gov to learn more.