Sec. of State Brewer & Attorney General Goddard Settle on Ballot Language for Marriage Amendment

Agreed Upon Language Meets Statutory Obligation of Both Constitutional Officers

PHOENIX -- Secretary of State Jan Brewer and Attorney General Goddard were able to work out an agreeable, out-of-court solution today regarding Proposition 102 (the Marriage Amendment) ballot language. The settlement narrowly met the timeline for printing the official ballot language in the 2008 Secretary of State Publicity Pamphlet.

“I am heartened that Attorney General Goddard and I were able to find an equitable solution which puts forward impartial ballot language on this matter,” stated Secretary of State Brewer, “In the end, I think this ballot language will put the question clearly to the public as to whether to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman in the Arizona Constitution or not.”

The Secretary of State and Attorney General's agreed upon language reads:

“A yes vote shall have the effect of amending the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, while maintaining the current statutory law of the State of Arizona , which prohibits marriage between persons of the same sex.”

“A no vote shall have the effect of maintaining the current statutory law of the State of Arizona , which prohibits marriage between persons of the same sex, but would not amend the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.”

The 2008 Publicity Pamphlet will be sent out by the Secretary of State to the printer by close of business today.

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