OPINION — As a new resident, I want to learn about my community and the issues on the ballot. I believe informed voting begins with asking questions and seeking accurate information.
Recently, while walking, I saw a sign urging residents to vote no on the school override because it would raise taxes. I called the number on the sign to learn more about the group behind it and its position. The man who answered explained that the override was the first step toward raising taxes and questioned the number of children in our schools. I shared my understanding that approving the override would maintain the existing tax rate, while rejecting it would allow taxes to decrease. I was simply seeking information, not an argument.
The conversation quickly took an unsettling turn. The man referenced personal information about me, used my name and referenced my former husband, and claimed there was only one registered voter at my address. When I asked which address, since I own property in multiple Arizona communities, he replied that it was public record and questioned if I had moved here just to obtain a ballot.
