North Carolina was the last state to eliminate property ownership requirements for voting in presidential elections. That was in 1856. Most Americans would believe that practice is a thing of the past for any electoral process. But that's not the case.

Right now, in Maricopa County, Arizona, a water and energy company called the Salt River Project (SRP) is holding an election to decide the board of directors responsible for setting its customers' monthly rates, affecting two million residents. But only homeowners or landowners can vote. And the more land you own, the more votes you get. A 500-acre owner gets 500 votes. A half-acre owner gets half a vote. People who rent their homes, who make up a large portion of those affected by these decisions, are completely excluded from voting. This makes the election a relic of the past, functioning, in effect, as a contemporary poll tax.

This antiquated rule dates back to before Arizona became a state. Originally, the Salt River Project was set up to be run by an independent board, separate from the state Corporations Commission, which oversees other utility companies.

That arrangement made sense when the Settlement Act made land available for $1.25 an acre, roughly $30 today. However, today, land in Arizona costs around $4,200 an acre, and the country is in the midst of an affordability crisis. The SRP elections went largely unnoticed for decades. In 2022, less than 1% of the 750,000 eligible voters cast ballots in the SRP Board of Directors elections. This is changing, but to make a real difference, people need to get out and vote. My organization, Poder Latinx, has been knocking on doors in the affected neighborhoods. Most people don't even know these elections exist. And even fewer know how to request their ballot to participate. We spoke with residents like Feliciano, who told us he is struggling financially and that electricity bills are eating up a large part of his budget. Many Latino families in the area face this same challenge, and most are renters who cannot vote. The elections have caught the attention of Turning Point,the far-right organization that staged an alternative halftime show this year during the Super Bowl simply because the event featured a Latino artist who sings primarily in Spanish. Turning Point is putting its ideology first by backing candidates who oppose one of the most effective solutions we have available: clean energy. But being against clean energy does nothing to solve the affordability crisis; in fact, it makes it worse. Clean energy is the cheapest and fastest source of energy to implement, costing 30% to 60% less than new gas-fired power plants to produce the same amount of electricity. Clean energy also employs more than 65,000 Arizonans, accounting for more than half of all energy sector jobs in the state. The health arguments are also clear: In 2025 alone, Maricopa County received negative ratings for the number of days with high ozone levels and for particulate matter pollution. These conditions are linked to asthma, heart disease, and increased emergency room visits during extreme heat. Latino communities in Phoenix would benefit the most. Many families live in areas affected by pollution from coal-fired power plants and gas infrastructure, which contribute to higher rates of respiratory problems. Clean energy can reverse this trend. Solar and wind projects create local jobs installing panels, maintaining systems, and manufacturing parts, while simultaneously reducing electricity costs. With lower bills, families have more money for groceries, rent, medical care, and their children's education. This goes beyond the environment; This is a matter of economic justice that directly impacts the financial and physical well-being of working families. That's why voting is so important. Homeowners who are eligible to vote should do so. Renters are excluded from this election but will have the opportunity to vote in the Arizona Corporation Commission election this November—another crucial moment in shaping Arizona's energy future. We can let the Salt River Project dictate rates and projects that only benefit its interests, or we can elect leaders who will fight for clean, affordable energy for all.

(*) Jose Flores is the coordinator of EcoPoder, Latinx Power Arizona. For more information: www.poderlatinx.org/srpspanish