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Judge rejects effort to block vote on school voucher law

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A judge is Phoenix has thrown out a lawsuit seeking to invalidate a voter referendum that is blocking Arizona's massive new school voucher program.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Margaret Mahoney's order is a major victory for the grassroots group of parents and teachers that collected signatures to block the law.

Barring a repeal of the 2017 law backed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey or a successful appeal, it will remain on the November ballot.

The order released Tuesday says voucher supporters didn't have a right to sue because the Legislature removed that in 2015 before restoring it during last year's legislative session.

The voucher law was a major priority of Ducey and was backed by school choice group American Federation for Children, formerly led by now-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.