Skip to main content
Independent and nonpartisan. SaveYourState is a civic information resource. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any government agency, party, or campaign.

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 ballot title (quoted exactly)

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.

Arguments “For” (p. 59) and “Against” (p. 62) Proposition 142, 2026 Arizona Publicity Pamphlet, Secretary of State (PDF)

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.

Official sources

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.