Arizona judge says new voting rulebook meets state law, dismisses suit from national Republicans | Sasha Hupka Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic

A judge has ruled against the Republican National Committee in a lawsuit that challenged Arizona’s new voting rulebook and alleged it would allow election fraud. The suit, filed in February, is one of several from Republicans questioning the state’s new Elections Procedures Manual. That document serves as a guide to election management for county officials statewide and is produced every election cycle by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. Read Article

In Arizona, election workers trained with deepfakes to prepare for 2024 | Sarah Ellison and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/The Washington Post

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes organized a groundbreaking training session for election workers, where they grappled with AI-generated scenarios designed to mimic potential threats during the upcoming election cycle. Participants from around the state faced challenges ranging from law enforcement operations to attempts to infiltrate technology systems. The exercise aimed to prepare election officials for the unprecedented threat of AI-generated deepfakes, which could undermine the integrity of elections. Following the event, a training document titled “How Election Officials Can Identify, Prepare for, and Respond to AI Threats” was created for distribution nationwide. Despite the daunting task of combating AI threats, practical suggestions emerged from the training, emphasizing the reinforcement of basic online security measures and the importance of verifying information before taking action. Read Article

Arizona may fund tool to allow candidates to verify election results, ballot by ballot | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona legislators are considering a proposal that would allocate $2 million from the state budget to develop a tool allowing election candidates to verify individual ballots in their races, aiming to increase transparency and address concerns about election integrity. Led by State Sen. Ken Bennett, Republicans endorse the initiative, which bypasses the traditional legislative process, prompting debate over privacy and potential misuse of election data. While supporters argue the tool would combat false claims of election fraud and bolster voter trust, critics, including Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, raise concerns about voter privacy and the potential for misuse of data before results are certified. Read Article

Arizona: US Supreme Court rejects Kari Lake, Mark Finchem in machine voting lawsuit, ending legal challenge | Stacey Barchenger/Arizona Republic

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal brought by Arizona Republicans Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, bringing finality to the duo’s legal effort challenging the use of electronic voting machines two years to the day after it began. Lake, a candidate for U.S. Senate, and Finchem, a candidate for state Senate, asked the nation’s top court to hear their case in mid-March. The court declined to consider it, making that official with an order on Monday that does not include details of the court’s decision. Legal experts had predicted the court would not exercise its discretion to add the case to its docket, citing well-established legal precedent and the court’s low acceptance rate. Read Article

Arizona: Inside the private company Maricopa County depends on to power through the last-minute ballot slog | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

After the polls close in Arizona’s presidential preference election, ballots arrive at Runbeck Election Services for processing, crucial in Maricopa County, the largest swing county in the U.S. These ballots, dropped off on Election Day, are among the last to be counted, as they require verification of voter signatures. Runbeck’s high-speed machines scan envelopes, facilitating the process. As election integrity comes under scrutiny, Maricopa County and Runbeck collaborate to expedite counting while ensuring transparency, with plans for a new election center. Questions arise about outsourcing the scanning process, but logistical challenges and the need for specialized expertise complicate efforts to bring the process in-house. Read Article

Arizona: A Cochise County official’s vote for hand-counting ballots came at a cost. Will anyone help her pay it? | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona state Sen. Sonny Borrelli’s offer to cover legal expenses for counties conducting hand-counted elections ahead of 2024 prompts Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd to question if she’d receive similar support amid her legal battle following indictments for expanding hand-count audits in 2022. Despite promises of aid, Judd feels abandoned, reflecting a broader issue of officials facing legal battles without sufficient support. While Judd denies wrongdoing, she’s frustrated by perceived lack of assistance from proponents of hand counts, highlighting a broader trend of officials grappling with legal challenges and insufficient backing. Read Article

Arizona: Bogus Election Fraud Claims Still Run Rampant in Maricopa County | Kellen Browning/The New York Times

Nearly four years after Joe Biden flipped Arizona blue, the state — and in particular its largest county, Maricopa — remains a hub for debunked claims of election fraud. In 2021, Republicans pushed for a recount of the vote in Maricopa, a lengthy and chaotic process that failed to validate former President Donald J. Trump’s false claims that the vote had been rigged. A year later, Kari Lake, a close Trump ally who lost the governor’s race, baselessly claimed that her election had been stolen, too. She attacked state and local officials and filed a series of fruitless lawsuits seeking to overturn the result. Read Article

Arizona: Pro-Trump disruptions in Maricopa County elevate fears for the 2024 vote | Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Adriana Usero/The Washington Post

During a Maricopa County board meeting in Arizona, chaos erupted as attendees rushed towards the dais, shouting that the supervisors were illegitimate, prompting security guards to escort the leaders out amid fears of violence. This incident, reminiscent of events following the 2020 election, has reignited concerns that officials overseeing elections in the county could face threats and intimidation, especially with another presidential election approaching. Read Article

Arizona: Man who sent bomb threat to election officials jailed for 42 months | Ed Pilkington/The Guardian

A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for threatening to blow up the secretary of state of Arizona in 2021, marking one of the most severe federal punishments for threats against election officials fueled by Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. James Clark’s online bomb threat, made a week after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, caused evacuations and heightened security measures. The prosecution was part of the election threats task force, established in response to a surge in intimidation of election officials following Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud. The judge emphasized the need for a deterrent sentence to protect democracy, amid a growing trend of threats against election officials nationwide. Read Article

Arizona voters will face more frequent checks on citizenship, residency | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona election officials are set to implement new laws after a federal judge upheld them, requiring frequent checks on voters’ U.S. citizenship and proof of residency for registration. These laws aim to prevent non-citizens from voting, although instances of such voter fraud are rare. While the laws could disproportionately affect certain groups, including lower-income individuals and naturalized citizens, the judge ruled they are not discriminatory. The regulations outline processes for verifying citizenship and residency, with county recorders tasked with investigating voter eligibility. However, concerns have been raised regarding potential disenfranchisement of Native Americans and out-of-state college students. Read Article

Arizona investigators issue grand jury subpoenas as state’s 2020 Trump election probe accelerates | Betsy Woodruff Swan and Kyle Cheney/Politico

Arizona prosecutors have escalated their criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign’s attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the state, issuing grand jury subpoenas to multiple individuals connected to Trump’s campaign. Attorney General Kris Mayes is nearing a decision on potential charges against Trump’s allies, including GOP activists who falsely posed as presidential electors. The investigation also involves scrutiny of individuals close to Trump’s national campaign, such as Mark Meadows and Trump attorneys John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro. Chesebro, who pleaded guilty for his role in organizing false electors in other states, has cooperated with investigators and agreed to speak with Arizona prosecutors. Read Article

Arizona: Legal battle looms as Democrats seek to intervene in lawsuits challenging Arizona’s election guidelines | Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic

Democratic groups at both state and national levels are fighting back against Republican-led challenges to Arizona’s Election Procedures Manual, labeling these attempts as election interference. The lawsuits aim to either void the entire manual or challenge specific provisions, including those regarding ballot drop boxes. Democrats argue that these legal actions could significantly impact election administration and potentially lead to voter intimidation and harassment. With the presidential preference election looming in March, they stress the urgency of intervening to safeguard election integrity and protect voters’ rights. Read Article

Arizona: 10 tons of ballot security paper may be for sale after failed Cochise County trial | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

A warehouse in Phoenix houses stacks of paper rolls weighing 10 tons each, initially intended for a Republican-led state grant project to test security features like watermarks on ballots. However, Cochise County’s failure to meet grant deadlines led to the project’s cancellation, leaving the county with surplus uncut paper and a watermarking machine. The dilemma of ownership and disposal arises, with potential solutions including a public auction to recoup state expenses, but concerns linger about the security risks posed by selling the paper, highlighting broader challenges in election security efforts amidst ongoing political controversies. Read Article

Arizona: Tucson lawmaker’s proposal to give Trump state’s electoral votes before the election blows up | Howard Fischer/Tucson Daily Star

A proposal by Arizona Republican Rep. Rachel Jones to allocate the state’s 11 electoral votes to Donald Trump prior to the November election faced backlash from some GOP colleagues and failed to advance in the House Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections. House Concurrent Resolution 2055 resolves “to change the manner of the presidential election by appointing the eleven presidential electors to the Republican primary winner to offset the removal of a Republican candidate from the ballot in Colorado and Maine.” Jones’ scheme was apparently too much even for Republican Reps. Alexander Kolodin of Scottsdale and Justin Heap of Mesa, who like her are members of the hard-right Arizona Freedom Caucus. “Are you asking us just to give Donald Trump the electors without having a vote?” Heap asked. Yes, replied Josh Barnett, a state Senate candidate who is pushing the bill. “It’s the only way to protect the vote for ’24.” Read Article

Arizona: Governor, GOP, Democrats find compromise as fix to election calendar clears Legislature | Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic

Arizona lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation to prevent automatic vote recount provisions from disrupting this year’s elections, notably by moving the primary election to July 30 instead of August 6, providing crucial time for recount processes without delaying other election activities. The bill aims to ensure timely ballot delivery for military and overseas voters and prevent delays in counting presidential votes, receiving bipartisan support with only four Republican lawmakers voting against it. Read Article

Arizona Republicans sue over new election rules, including handling of election results disputes | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona Republicans filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate election rules set by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat. The contested rules, part of the Elections Procedures Manual approved in December, include requirements for prompt certification of election results by county supervisors and the potential exclusion of votes from counties that fail to meet certification deadlines. The Republicans argue that the secretary of state lacks the authority to create rules regarding the finalization of election results and claim that Fontes’ manual aims to disenfranchise voters and circumvent state election laws. The lawsuit comes amid the 2024 election cycle, raising questions about its potential impact on ongoing electoral processes. Read Article

This Arizona ballot maker had robust security in place before 2020 elections. For 2024, it’s adding more | Sasha Hupka/The Arizona Republic

Phoenix-based company Runbeck Election Services, which prints voting materials for counties across the U.S., is enhancing its security measures ahead of the 2024 election cycle. The company, which already had robust cybersecurity measures, access-controlled facilities, and GPS-tracked trucks, is adding armed officers, additional cameras, and a designated area for election observers with a live video feed. These measures aim to address concerns stemming from false allegations of fraud and threats against election workers during recent elections. The company’s president, Jeff Ellington, highlighted the importance of ensuring employees’ safety and maintaining secure election processes. The move comes as election-related controversies and misinformation continue to contribute to heightened tensions in the political landscape. Read Article

Arizona: Election distrust in Cochise County runs deep, and change is slow to come | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

More than a year after the midterm election, distrust in the electoral process persists in Cochise County. The region has been influenced by claims of election fraud, with former President Donald Trump and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake making unproven allegations that resonated with voters. In this context, efforts to educate the public on how elections are run and rebuild trust face challenges. The county supervisors who attempted to hand-count ballots and block the certification of votes now face pending felony charges. County officials are grappling with the influence of external voices and trying to address concerns about election fairness amidst other pressing issues such as road conditions, water resources, and border crossings by undocumented immigrants. Read Article

Arizona: Not MAGA enough: 2020 election skeptic quit his job after facing blowback from angry election deniers | Rob Kuznia, Scott Bronstein and Donie O’Sullivan/CNN

Bob Bartelsmeyer, the former Cochise County elections director, faced a tumultuous tenure marked by local election deniers, harassment, and conspiracy theories. Initially a believer in the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, Bartelsmeyer’s attempt to implement common-sense election measures faced strong opposition. The Cochise Board of Supervisors, amidst suspicions related to the 2020 election, voted against Bartelsmeyer’s proposals, leading to his resignation in September. His story highlights the challenges faced by election officials dealing with distrust and conspiracy theories, contributing to a broader trend of election officials leaving their positions across the U.S., raising concerns about the upcoming elections. Read Article

Arizona: Are unstaffed ballot drop boxes allowed? Final rulebook offers little clarity | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona voters have utilized unstaffed ballot drop boxes for years, but a new state Elections Procedures Manual by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, finalized on Dec. 30, has raised questions about the legality of these drop boxes. While the prior manual explicitly allowed unstaffed drop boxes, the new edition’s changes imply that only drop boxes staffed by election officials may be placed outdoors or inside a building. Although Fontes’ general counsel insists that the changes were made to align with state law and unstaffed drop boxes are still permitted, concerns have been raised, with Republicans planning to address the matter in litigation. Read Article

Why Arizona is worried about finishing the presidential election on time but other states aren’t | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona faces a unique and challenging election timeline, raising concerns about delayed ballot delivery for military voters and late result reporting to Congress. Factors contributing to this situation include a new state law ensuring recounts, a federal law hardening the presidential race deadline, voter-friendly mail ballot rules, and an extended timeframe for counting ballots. Other states with more efficient election timelines have shorter mail ballot periods, quicker counting laws, faster certification dates, and reduced risk of recounts. Arizona officials are calling for changes to key dates to avoid potential delays, with options including adjusting the primary date, tightening voter-friendly rules, compressing result certification timelines, and addressing the recount process. However, aligning Republican lawmakers, county officials, and Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs on proposed changes poses challenges, and the window for adjustments is narrowing. Read Article

Arizona: It took years for truth about election ‘audit’ to emerge. Why The Arizona Republic kept fighting. | Ryan Randazzo/Arizona Republic

The Arizona “audit” of the 2020 election, initially presented as an objective review, has been revealed to be a partisan effort orchestrated by Donald Trump loyalists. The Arizona Republic, which fought for over two years to obtain information, uncovered through released texts and emails that the audit was part of a nationwide attempt to undermine elections in states won by Democrat Joe Biden. The audit, led by Cyber Ninjas, failed to provide evidence of fraud and cost over $5.5 million. The Republic’s lawsuit exposed financial ties between Trump-affiliated groups and the lead contractor, Doug Logan, as well as communication with Trump allies to sow distrust in election results. Read Article

Arizona: Cochise County supervisors plead not guilty in election interference case | Joe Duhownik/Courthouse News Service

Two Cochise County supervisors, Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and interfering with an elections officer in Arizona. The supervisors are accused of conspiring to delay the canvassing of votes cast in the 2022 general election until they received evidence that the ballot tabulation machines used were properly certified. The delay violated the legal deadline, and the board completed the canvass three days later, complying with a state judge’s order. The indictment comes amid a surge of unproven claims of election fraud, particularly in Arizona, where the issue has been a focal point. The charges are class 5 felonies, carrying potential penalties of up to 2.5 years in prison or a $150,000 fine. Read Article

Arizona: Cochise County supervisors face a legal battle and possible fines. Who will pay for it? | Sasha Hupka/Arizona Republic

Cochise County supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, facing charges related to interference in the 2022 election, will not have their legal costs covered by taxpayers, according to Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre. The supervisors, who voted to delay certification of the vote last year, will be personally responsible for legal fees, potential fines, and hiring their attorneys. The charges stem from their actions on the board, but they are indicted as individuals, making it a criminal case. While some county officials receive legal fee coverage through insurance, Cochise County’s insurance pool reportedly only covers expenses related to civil litigation, leaving Crosby and Judd to seek alternative sources for their defense costs. Read Article

Arizona: Two Cochise County supervisors indicted for refusing to certify midterm election | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Cochise County Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, both Republicans, have been indicted for conspiracy and interference with an election officer, both felonies, by an Arizona grand jury. The charges stem from their refusal to certify the county’s election by the Nov. 28, 2022 deadline, as required by state law, and allegedly conspiring to delay the canvass of votes. The indictment claims they knowingly interfered with the Arizona Secretary of State’s ability to complete the statewide canvass. Read Article

Arizona: ‘The poison continues to spread’: legal losses fail to quell election denial hotbed | Rachel Leingang/The Guardian

In Cochise County the aftermath of two Republican supervisors, Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby, questioning the integrity of elections and refusing to certify results has led to significant consequences. The county, facing legal costs amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, has witnessed changes in its elections department leadership, and it has become a focal point for far-right election fervor, featuring conspiracy theories and attempts to limit voting access. Despite legal losses, election denialism persists in the county, with Crosby crowdfunding for legal support, and efforts to recall him falling short. The county’s struggles have deterred other Arizona counties from adopting similar approaches. Read Article

Arizona: Cochise County officials who refused to certify election now under investigation by attorney general | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is investigating Cochise County supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, both Republicans, for their refusal to certify the county’s midterm election results within the state-required deadline. The subpoenas, issued by Mayes’ office, do not specify the criminal violations being investigated. The two supervisors had initially voted to postpone the certification, citing unfounded claims about ballot tabulation machines, and also attempted to implement a full hand count of all ballots, both of which were deemed illegal. Mayes’ probe aims to deter similar disruptions in future elections, potentially setting a precedent for holding officials accountable for their duties in accordance with state law. Read Article

Arizona prosecutors ask about 2020 pressure campaign by Trump allies | Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/The Wahington Post

The Arizona Attorney General’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results is now focusing on the pressure exerted on local officials by key allies of former President Donald Trump. Specifically, investigators have interviewed current and former Republican members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who certified the 2020 presidential election results, and former House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified last year about Trump and Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to investigate unproven allegations of voter fraud. This shift in focus could signal an expansion of the investigation, which initially focused on 11 Arizona Republicans who falsely claimed to be the state’s legitimate electors. The investigation aims to uncover the behind-the-scenes efforts to halt vote-counting and delay the certification of election results. Read Article

Arizona: Previously hidden Cyber Ninjas texts revealed in records lawsuit over ‘audit’ | Robert Anglen and Ryan Randazzo/Arizona Republic

The CEO of Cyber Ninjas, Doug Logan, attempted to conceal more than 1,400 text messages which have now been decrypted, revealing communications between him and Michigan lawyer Stefanie Lambert regarding the Arizona Senate’s election “audit”. The messages discuss topics such as funding for the audit, voting machines, and concerns raised by then-Senate President Karen Fann about what information should be made public. Lambert criticized Fann’s preference for secrecy, highlighting the potential consequences for the audit effort. The messages also contain a link to a fundraising site, raising questions about the transparency of the funding process. Read Article

Arizona: Hand count all ballots? It’s possible, but Cochise County ignored the rules, court says | Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic

The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that Cochise County supervisors and the county recorder lacked the authority to attempt a full hand count of all ballots cast in the 2022 general election. The three-judge panel affirmed a previous decision by a Pima County Superior Court judge, stating that the county did not follow the proper procedures outlined in state law, which mandates a gradual, multi-step process before a jurisdiction-wide hand-count audit can occur. The ruling could impact the county’s plans to hand count future elections, including the upcoming presidential race next year. The case was brought by the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans and a Cochise County resident, and while the court rejected their request for the county to cover their attorney fees, it did order the county to cover their court costs. Read Article