In the general election earlier this month, many Arizona voters decided on ballot items impacting public schools. But how does that process actually fund buildings and operations? This episode breaks down the complex system of Arizona school finance. Hosts Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission talk to Glenn Farley from the Common Sense Institute about his research on school capital finance formulas.  We cover the basics of AZ school capital finance, policy & impact since the great recession, practical advice for voters on how to research and understand school-related propositions and bonds, and more.  Guest: Glenn Farley (https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/arizona/about/team/glenn-farley) Common Sense Institute: Arizona School Districts’ Growing Problem with Empty Buildings and Empty Buses (https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/arizona/research/education/echoes-in-the-halls-arizona-school-districts-growing-problem-with-empty-buildings-and-empty-buses) Clean Elections Website: Past Elections (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/past-elections) Clean Elections Newsletter (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/sign-up-for-email) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Data guru Garrett Archer joins us to unpack the numbers behind Arizona's shift to a swing state, explaining how changing voter coalitions, the independent voters (unaffiliated voters), and people moving to the state are reshaping our electoral landscape.  We break down the key data points that define Arizona's unique political mix and more.  For official, nonpartisan information on voting in Arizona and understanding clean funding, head over to the AZ Citizens Clean Elections Commission website. Guest: Garrett Archer (https://www.abc15.com/about-us/staff/garrett-archer) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This episode explores how voters influence schools, the current state of education, and how our education system prepares the next generation for the workforce opportunities coming to the state. Hosts Tom Collins and Gina Roberts from the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission talk to Dr. Quintin Boyce, the Associate Vice President of Outreach at Arizona State University, about the link between the economy and education in Arizona. Guest: Dr. Quintin Boyce (https://search.asu.edu/profile/83217) Clean Elections: Nov 4th Local Election (https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/november-04-2025-election) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on 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 on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.