Arizona faces renewed tensions over election transparency as Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation seeking to accelerate ballot counting delays through earlier mail ballot deadlines. The move comes after Republicans cited Arizona’s weeks-long 2024 vote tally as harming public trust, while Democrats warned of disenfranchisement risks.
‘This legislation focuses on disenfranchising voters – not efficiency,’ Hobbs stated in her veto message.
Key disagreements center on Arizona’s mail ballot rules. Current law permits voters to submit ballots until 7 PM on Election Day, but signature verification processes often delay results by 10+ days. The bill proposed moving deadlines to 72 hours pre-election, mirroring systems in Florida where most results are reported overnight.
Republican leaders argue reforms would:
- Reduce post-election workload for officials
- Enable earlier detection of signature mismatches
- Align Arizona with other states’ timelines
Democratic critics counter that tribal and rural voters disproportionately rely on last-minute ballot returns. Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly highlighted impacts on communities lacking postal access, stating: This penalizes voters navigating systemic infrastructure gaps.
Maricopa County faced national scrutiny during recent elections due to slow counts in pivotal races. While GOP officials claim bipartisan county recorder support for the bill, Pinal County’s Dana Lewis admits signature verification changes would shift – not eliminate – administrative challenges.
Arizona’s status as a battleground state amplifies stakes. With 9 electoral votes and ultra-tight Senate races, delayed results increasingly draw accusations of foul play. Legislative leaders now pivot to a ballot initiative letting voters decide on deadline reforms directly in 2024.