November 19, 2020 / Modified nov 19, 2020 4:21 p.m.

See how Pima County voted on Arizona ballot initiatives

County voters showed strong support for both Prop. 207 and Prop. 208, but margins didn't parallel state voting.

Pima County threw its support behind two statewide measures on the ballot in the 2020 general election, but the level of enthusiasm for the two measures differed significantly between the county and the state as a whole.

An October poll of 502 registered voters in Arizona suggested both Proposition 207 — legalizing recreational marijuana — and Proposition 208 — establishing a wealth tax to fund education — were on track for passage. While trends had shifted slightly compared with a previous poll, the survey showed stronger support from respondents for Prop. 208 than it did for Prop. 207.

When ballots were cast, however, Arizona overwhelmingly supported recreational marijuana and approved the Invest in Education Act by a much narrower margin.

Support for the two measures in Pima County didn't show as stark a divide.

Prop. 207 - recreational marijuana

Dots are randomly distributed in a precinct and don't show actual voter locations. Click a precinct for more.
Nick O'Gara/AZPM. Sources: Pima County

Statewide, voters passed Proposition 207 by a resounding 20 points, and Pima County residents approved the measure to legalize marijuana with an even higher share of votes. A similar measure narrowly failed in the state in 2016 (48% to 52%), though Pima County voters approved that measure by 2.7 points.

Proposition 207

  • Arizona: 60.03% for, 39.97% against
  • Pima County: 63.85% for, 36.15% against

Prop. 208 - Invest in Ed

Dots are randomly distributed in a precinct and don't show actual voter locations. Click a precinct for more.
Nick O'Gara/AZPM. Sources: Pima County

Voters across Arizona were less enthusiastic about Proposition 208, the so-called Invest in Ed Act, which taxes the state's highest earners to fund public education. The initiative passed by 3.5 point margin, or a little over 110,000 votes. Pima County, on the other hand, passed the measure by a 20-point margin.

Proposition 208

  • Arizona: 51.75% for, 48.25% against
  • Pima County: 60.4% for, 39.6% against

Support for both propositions gained strength the more central the Tucson precinct, mirroring typical Democratic voting patterns. While both measures passed handily, precincts on the outskirts and in surrounding communities were less inclined to support the education tax. Only five Pima County precincts showed majority opposition to the recreational marijuana initiative, while 29 precincts cast more votes opposing Invest in Ed.


Maps by Nick O'Gara/AZPM. Voting data acquired Nov. 17 from Pima County Elections Department. Spatial data from Pima County Open Data Portal, USGS.
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