Am I going to get social security? What is the federal debt? What is the federal deficit? We’ve got answers.  Hosts Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission brought on Dr. Jose Jurado, a senior research economist at ASU, to talk about personal and federal financial health, the role of tax cuts, and the sustainability of social security. Guest: Jose Jurado, Ph.D. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-economist-researcher/) Medicare (https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2025&lang=en)  Marketplace (https://www.healthcare.gov/keep-or-change-plan/) Access Your Social Security Account (https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/) Crunch Time: Inside the Arizona State Budget (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-ballot-az/id1811140659?i=1000718844814) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission talk with Elvia Díaz, now an independent journalist, about lessons from her career in journalism, how to best serve hispanic voters, and trust in today’s media. Guest: Elvia Díaz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elvia-d%C3%ADaz-9719295/) NOTAS con Elvia Díaz - Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notas-con-elvia-d%C3%ADaz/id1811590209) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Election integrity, accuracy of vote count, and security of mail-in-voting. These are things we know voters care about, but who actually makes those things happen? Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission talk with Sara Rinfret, a Professor from Northern Arizona University, about the role of election officials. Get an inside look at how future election administrators are being trained to ensure integrity, security, and efficiency in our voting systems. Guest: Sara Rinfret, PhD (https://directory.nau.edu/?person=srr54) NAU Elections Administration certificate (https://catalog.nau.edu/Catalog/details?plan=ELADUCT&catalogYear=2526)  AZ Clean Elections Website: Election Security (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/election-security) NPR: Voting officials are leaving their jobs at the highest rate in decades (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/20/nx-s1-5503954/turnover-election-officials-trump) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We’re talking about how young people are leaning into politics through local engagement, voting, and running for office.  Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission talk with Nivea Krishnan, a Senior Advisor for New Voters, about political polarization, civic identity, how Gen Z is approaching politics, and more.  Plus learn how parents, high school students, college students, and teachers can activate young people in civic activities- even if they can’t vote yet! “Critical thinking is our super power.” - Nivea Krishnan Guest: Nivea Krishnan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nivea-krishnan-3027601a9/) New Voters (https://www.new-voters.org/) Circle Data 47% Youth Voter Turnout (https://circle.tufts.edu/2024-election) CCEC: Youth Voters Resource page (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/how-to-vote/youth-voters) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this special edition show for National Voter Registration Day, we’re talking about how to get registered to vote and the issues that can impact your registration.  Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission talk with Commissioner Ben Hovland who serves on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission after being unanimously confirmed by the US Senate in 2019. Guest: Commissioner Benjamin Hovland (https://www.eac.gov/about/commissioner-benjamin-hovland) The US Election Assistance Commission Website (https://www.eac.gov/) National Voter Registration Day Website (https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/) The Election Administration and Voting Survey (https://eavsportal.com/) How To Register To Vote (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/register-now) November 4, 2025 Local Elections (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/november-04-2025-election) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Redistricting continued. Picking up from part one, we’re covering the national landscape of redistricting and how recent Supreme Court decisions have shifted the enforcement of anti-gerrymandering laws. Plus how redistricting affects Arizona voters, especially in primary elections, why competitive districts matter, and more.  Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission talk with Justin Levitt, a professor of law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, about the implications of partisan redistricting for democracy. Redistricting Part 1 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-ballot-az/id1811140659?i=1000722951286) Guest: Justin Levitt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlevitt/) CCEC redistricting explainer (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/how-government-works/redistricting) All about redistricting (https://redistricting.lls.edu/) AZ Independent Redistricting Commission (https://irc.az.gov/) CCEC: Find My Elected Officials (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/elected-officials) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today we’re talking about how redistricting works in Arizona and what it means to have an independent redistricting commission. Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission talk with Justin Levitt, a professor of law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, known for his extensive work in redistricting. Guest: Justin Levitt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlevitt/) CCEC redistricting explainer (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/how-government-works/redistricting) All about redistricting (https://redistricting.lls.edu/) AZ Independent Redistricting Commission (https://irc.az.gov/) CCEC: Find My Elected Officials (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/elected-officials) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Curious about the future of third party politics in Arizona? This episode is for you.  Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission sit down with Dr. Thom Reilly, Co-Director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at ASU, and author of 'The Independent Voter,' to learn more about the two party system, what it takes to run on a third party ticket, and where the independent voter fits in. CCEC: Voting as an Independent in Arizona (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/no-party) The independent vote in 2024: An analysis of swing-states vs. US (from Edison Research / National Election poll via Reuters exit poll data) (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_jEsAcMLfhpxMELnxht5YyGJlqswekvF/view?usp=sharing) Gallup: Independents Drive Trump's Approval to 37% Second-Term Low (https://news.gallup.com/poll/692879/independents-drive-trump-approval-second-term-low.aspx) Pew Research Center: Support for more political parties in the U.S. is higher among adults under age 50 (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/10/19/support-for-more-political-parties-in-the-u-s-is-higher-among-adults-under-age-50/) Gallup: Support for a Third Political Party in the U.S. Dips to 58% (https://news.gallup.com/poll/651278/support-third-political-party-dips.aspx) Book: The Independent Voter (https://www.thomreillypublications.com/) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The state budget for the upcoming year has passed but not without some pretty lively debate.  The budget tells you what Arizona really cares about, we’re here to give you the scoop. Join Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Clean Elections Commission as they explore this year's intense budget negotiations that almost led to a government shutdown.  They break it all down with the honorable Ken Bennett, former Secretary of State and State Senate President, who shares his firsthand experience on what it takes to pass a budget and the money moves that impact us all. CCEC: Get To Know Your Elected Officials (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/elected-officials) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In just five days, Arizonans will pick their candidates for the special primary election in the seventh Congressional District (CD7).  Tom and Gina are joined by special guest Steve Goldstein (https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-goldstein-6a849438/), a seasoned Arizona journalist and debate moderator, to break down everything you need to know, from who’s running, the key issues candidates are focused on, and standout moments from the recent debates.  Plus everything you need to know to cast your vote on July 15th! Early Voting Locations (July 11 Last Day to Vote Early In-Person) (https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/287/Recorder) Election Day Voting Location (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/voter-dashboard) CD7 Special Election Candidates (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/find-my-candidates) View CD7 Voter Education Guide (https://storageccec.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/public/docs/1304-CD7_VEG_English.pdf) Watch: CD7 Republican Primary Debate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7bm0ryT3Z4) Watch: CD7 Democratic Primary Debate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQwHugrB-_M) Episode on the late Representative Raúl Grijalva (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-ballot-az/id1811140659?i=1000705691703) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.