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Arizona · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure

Proposition 317: what your vote means

Drug cartels and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. On every Arizona ballot. Official sources checked October 26, 2026.

Proposition 317 · Statute referred by the Legislature (cannot later be changed except by a three-fourths legislative vote that furthers its purpose, or by voters)

Drug cartels and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security

Official ballot title (quoted exactly)

OFFICIAL TITLE: AMENDING TITLE 41, CHAPTER 41, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 41-4256. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: DECLARES THAT DRUG CARTELS ARE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS; DIRECTS THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO DO EVERYTHING IN ITS AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS DRUG CARTELS.

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:

State law would declare drug cartels to be terrorist organizations and direct the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to do everything in its authority to address threats they pose.

A NO vote means:

Current laws on terrorism and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security stay as they are.

What it would change

  • Definition: “drug cartel” means an ongoing association of people engaged in human smuggling, drug trafficking, or acts defined as terrorism under Arizona law.
  • Other: states that the measure does not support an alien’s asylum claim.
  • 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 drug cartels operating along the border act as terrorist organizations and that the measure requires the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to use its full authority against them.

Argument against

The one opposing argument filed says the measure is symbolic, does not add practical effect, and that a similar measure was vetoed by the Governor.

Arguments “For” (p. 103) and “Against” (p. 104) Proposition 317, 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.

Who supports it

Not yet compiled

Who opposes it

Not yet compiled

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.