Arizona judge tosses secret ballot measure

A judge has ruled that a referendum on secret ballots cannot be decided at the November election.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Oberbillig ruled Wednesday that the referendum violates Arizona’s rule that constitutional ballot measures be limited to one question.

The referendum would have asked voters whether to require secret ballots for public elections and for workers voting whether to organize as part of a labor union.

The judge ruled that the two provisions are not “sufficiently or logically related to one another.” He also noted that Arizona’s constitution already requires a secret ballot for public elections.