Arizona Governor Rejects Bill Aimed at Accelerating Ballot Counting in Key Swing State
The state has taken nearly two weeks to release its results following recent elections.
On Tuesday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a proposed bill intended to accelerate ballot counting in the state, expressing worries that it would complicate the voting process.
Earlier this month, Hobbs indicated she would veto the bill due to concerns it could hinder voter access, which led to stalled negotiations with lawmakers.
Ultimately, those compromises were dismissed, which resulted in her veto of the measure, according to the governor.
Hobbs expressed that her primary concern was that the legislation would limit late-early ballot drop-offs and effectively terminate Arizona’s Active Early Voting List, thereby “undermining the vote by mail program that many Arizonans depend on.”
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“I proposed compromises that encompass this change, along with measures such as same-day voter registration, cross-county registration portability, and enhanced assistance for eligible voters to return their ballots, all to uphold voter access,” Hobbs declared. “However, compromise was not accepted.”
Arizona’s election results are often reported later than those of other states, partly due to a state-mandated signature verification process for mail-in ballots and an increase in emergency voting during the weekend preceding Election Day.
According to current regulations, voters may submit their mail-in ballots at polling sites until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Consequently, it can take nearly two weeks for the state to report its election results.
Senate President Calls Veto a ‘Huge Mistake’
The legislation that Hobbs rejected would have barred a significant number of voters from dropping off their mail-in ballots on Election Day, moving that deadline to the Friday prior instead.
This alteration would have enabled election officials to gather most mail-in ballots before election night and commence the signature verification process earlier.
Furthermore, the provision would have mandated that voters visit designated voting locations—based on their residency—during the weekend before an election to present identification and sign an early voter affidavit to drop off their ballots.
The proposal stated that Arizona’s delayed election results are “sometimes interpreted as evidence of election worker incompetence or inefficiency, or as an opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to improperly influence the ballot tabulation process.”
Owing to the delays in reporting final outcomes, the public’s trust in Arizona’s voting system has diminished, according to the bill.
“By decentralizing and streamlining the process for confirming voter identity tied to late early ballots and abolishing emergency voting in the days just before Election Day, Arizona can significantly reduce administrative burdens, expedite the ballot tabulation process, and enhance confidence in the electoral system,” the legislation emphasized.
Senate President Warren Petersen, the bill’s sponsor, characterized Hobbs’ veto as “a huge mistake” and “a lost opportunity to bolster voter confidence and alleviate frustrations on election night.”
In a statement released on Feb. 18, Petersen noted that lawmakers remain dedicated to implementing “commonsense and proven changes” to the election processes within the state.
“Arizona should never again be the subject of ridicule for its unacceptably slow election reporting,” he stated. “Our caucus will be considering a plan to address this issue in the coming days and weeks.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
