Arizona · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure
Proposition 142: what your vote means
Prohibition of preferential treatment and discrimination. On every Arizona ballot. Official sources checked October 26, 2026.
Proposition 142 · Constitutional amendment referred by the Legislature
Prohibition of preferential treatment and discrimination
OFFICIAL TITLE: AMENDING ARTICLE II, SECTION 36, CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: ADDS FURTHER DETAILS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION AGAINST PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OR DISCRIMINATION BY THE STATE BASED ON RACE, ETHNICITY, OR OTHER CLASSES.
Official title and descriptive title as printed in the ballot format section of the 2026 Arizona Publicity Pamphlet, Secretary of State.
A YES vote means:
The constitution’s existing ban on state preferential treatment or discrimination by race, ethnicity, or other classes would be expanded to prohibit requiring support for race-based preferences, funding public education positions that promote them, and race-based discipline practices.
A NO vote means:
The current constitutional prohibition stays as it is.
What it would change
- Who is affected: the state, cities, counties, public universities, community colleges, school districts, and their applicants, students, employees, and contractors.
- Specific bans: requiring or asking for statements supporting race-based diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond the federal Equal Protection Clause, or asking people to discuss their race or ethnicity; requiring related trainings.
- Exceptions: certain health services, legal, and other reasons.
- Fiscal impact: No official fiscal impact statement is published in the Publicity Pamphlet for this legislative referral.
Official arguments, summarized
Short neutral summaries of the arguments printed in the official voters’ pamphlet. The committees that wrote them are responsible for their content. Read the full text at the link below.
Argument for
Supporters say the measure closes a constitutional exception that allows race-based preferences when federal programs require them, bars public employers and schools from requiring people to endorse such preferences, and makes equal treatment the rule regardless of federal policy.
Argument against
Opponents say the Arizona Constitution already bans preferential treatment and discrimination, that the measure’s broad and unclear wording could chill lawful programs, teaching, and research, and that it lets future Legislatures prohibit additional “related” practices or concepts.
Who supports it and who opposes it
These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.
Who supports it
- Arizona Women of Action Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored for Prop 142 (PDF p. 60)
- AZ Free Enterprise Club Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored for Prop 142 (PDF p. 61)
- Heritage Action for America Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored for Prop 142 (PDF p. 59)
- The Goldwater Institute Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored for Prop 142 (PDF p. 59)
Who opposes it
- ACLU of Arizona Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored against Prop 142 (PDF p. 65)
- Civic Engagement Beyond Voting Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored against Prop 142 (PDF p. 62)
- Corey Woods Mayor of Tempe Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: signed argument against Prop 142 (PDF p. 66)
- Lauren Kuby (D) State Senator, District 8 Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: signed argument against Prop 142 (PDF p. 63) · party: azleg.gov
- League of Women Voters of Arizona Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored against Prop 142 (PDF p. 63)
- Mi Familia Vota Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored against Prop 142 (PDF p. 65)
- Mitzi Epstein (D) State Senator, District 12 Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: signed argument against Prop 142 (PDF p. 63) · party: azleg.gov
- Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored against Prop 142 (PDF p. 64)
- Will of the People Arizona Secretary of State, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: argument sponsored against Prop 142 (PDF p. 66)
Official sources
- 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: Legislative Council analysis of Proposition 142 (PDF, p. 58)
- 2026 Publicity Pamphlet: ballot format for Proposition 142 (PDF, p. 69)
- Full text of the measure, 2026 Publicity Pamphlet (PDF, p. 56)
- Official 2026 ballot measure language, Arizona Secretary of State (PDF)
SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.