The Acre Voting System:
A Relic of the Past

SRP is one of the last utilities in America where your vote is tied to land ownership—not to being a customer or a citizen.

What Is Acre Voting?

Salt River Project was founded in 1903 as an agricultural cooperative to manage water and power for Arizona farmers. Back then, voting rights were tied to land ownership—specifically, the number of acres you owned within the district.

More than 120 years later, that system is still in place. Even though SRP now serves over one million customers across the Phoenix metro area, voting power is still determined by land ownership, not by who pays the bills.

How It Works

1

Land-Based Eligibility

To vote in SRP elections, you must own land within the SRP service boundary that has been assigned water rights—called "subscribable" land.

2

Votes Tied to Acreage

The more land you own, the more votes you get. A landowner with 100 acres has more voting power than a homeowner with a quarter-acre lot.

3

Most Customers Can't Vote

If you rent, live in a condo or apartment, or own property outside the historic boundaries, you likely have no vote at all—even though you pay SRP every month.

By The Numbers

~1 Million

SRP customers in the Phoenix metro area

~49%

Estimated customers who cannot vote

10-15%

Typical voter turnout in SRP elections

1903

Year this voting system was created

Why Does This Matter?

SRP's Board of Directors makes decisions that affect your daily life: what you pay for electricity, whether you can install solar panels, how water is allocated, and whether large industrial users get special treatment.

When voting power is concentrated among landowners—many of whom are agricultural operations, developers, or businesses—the interests of everyday residential customers can take a back seat.

This isn't about blaming anyone. It's simply an outdated system that no longer reflects the community SRP serves. A voting structure designed for 1903 Arizona farmers doesn't make sense for a 21st-century metropolitan utility.

What We Believe

  • Every SRP customer who pays a bill should have a voice in how the utility is run.
  • Voting power shouldn't depend on how much land you own.
  • Modernizing governance would make SRP more accountable to the people it serves.
  • Reform should be thoughtful and respect SRP's history while serving today's community.

Can You Vote in SRP Elections?

The only way to know for sure is to check SRP's official district map. Even if you own your home, your property may not be on "subscribable" land.

Check Your Eligibility on SRP's Website

Questions? Call SRP's Election Information Line at (602) 236-3048 or email election@srpnet.com

If You Can Vote, Use It

Until the system changes, those who can vote have an outsized responsibility. If you're eligible, your vote matters more than ever. Help elect leaders who will fight for all ratepayers.

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