Arizona: Judge questions legality of method used for verifying ballot signatures | Howard Fischer/Tucson Daily Star
A judge in Yavapai County, Arizona, has stated that the practice used by counties in the state to verify signatures on early ballots may be illegal. The judge emphasized that state law is "clear and unambiguous" in requiring election officials to compare the signature on a ballot envelope with the voter’s registration record, which consists of the document signed at the time of initial registration and subsequent changes such as party affiliation. This would make it illegal to use other documents for signature verification. The judge's ruling came in response to a lawsuit challenging the practice, filed by two groups, and while a final order has not yet been issued, the judge's decision to not dismiss the case indicates that the issue will be further litigated. The lawsuit targets Secretary of State Adrian Fontes' efforts to allow comparison of signatures against additional documents, a practice currently in widespread use. Read ArticleArizona: In court, Trump supporter faces election official he violently threatened | Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/The Washington Post
Clint Hickman, a Republican who serves as chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona, endured threats and harassment after certifying Trump's loss in Arizona in 2020. Mark Rissi, who threatened Hickman and the state's former attorney general, faced federal prosecutors and was sentenced to 30 months in prison, highlighting how individuals who embraced violence or threats due to election denialism are now facing legal consequences. The case reflects the broader challenges facing democracy and the efforts to deter threats against public officials involved in election processes. Read ArticleArizona: Are ballot envelopes public record? Kari Lake voter challenge to be heard in court | Stacey Barchenger/Arizona Republic
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has been granted a two-day trial in September to review the signatures of about 1.3 million Maricopa County residents who voted early in the 2020 election. Lake has argued that the signatures on the green affidavit envelopes voters use to return their early ballots are a public record, while the county contends they are not subject to public review. Lake, who lost the race for governor but continues to claim she is the rightful governor and a victim of a rigged election, has used this case to support her baseless election fraud claims. Read ArticleArizona: Cochise County votes no on extending controversial ballot paper security pilot | Jen Fifield/Votebeat Arizona
Cochise County in Arizona has voted against extending a $1 million state grant that would have allowed them to work with Authentix, a company partnered with former state Rep. Mark Finchem, to test security features on ballots, including watermarks and special ink. The decision means that County Recorder David Stevens will only be able to use supplies he had already ordered from another company, Runbeck Election Services, for the pilot testing. Authentix has been linked to Stevens through personal connections, and some residents expressed concerns about the contract, believing it to be unnecessary and potentially tied to political favoritism. This decision follows controversies around the county's election processes, including disputes over hand-counting ballots and claims of fraud. Read ArticleArizona Supreme Court rules against attorney seeking to void 2022 election | Howard Fischer/Arizona Capitol Times
The Arizona Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to void the results of the entire 2022 election. A Scottsdale attorney, Ryan Heath, had asked the court to order Maricopa County to redo the process used to verify signatures on early ballot envelopes. However, the court ruled that only those involved in the original lawsuit have the legal right to appeal the trial court's decision and that Heath's legal relief sought, which is an order to redo the 2022 election or revisit the ballots, is only appropriate when there are no facts in dispute, which is not the case here. Read ArticleArizona: Cut this, add that: Commenters on left, right criticize draft of 2024 state’s ‘election bible’ | Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic
Arizona's draft Elections Procedures Manual, which outlines how to conduct an election, has attracted significant public input and scrutiny from voting rights groups, political parties, state lawmakers, and more. The manual, issued by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, has generated controversy over various provisions, including the date when voters would be removed from county voting rosters, interpretation of voting laws, and voter registration procedures. Senate President Warren Petersen has threatened to sue if certain edits are not made to the manual. Public input is being considered as the manual undergoes revisions and must ultimately gain approval from the attorney general, governor, and secretary of state for use in upcoming elections. Read ArticleArizona: Secure ballots or boondoggle? Cochise county tailors project to politically connected firm | Jen Fifield/Votebeat Arizona
An Arizona county's plan to spend up to $1 million in state funds to test anti-counterfeit features on ballots has raised suspicions that the project was designed to benefit a specific company, Texas-based Authentix, which has been promoting its products with the help of political allies in the state. The project involves adding unique features like watermarks to ballots to protect against fraudulent ballots and improve voter confidence. However, election technology experts argue that the project is tailored for Authentix's products and could limit competition while testing unnecessary and expensive features. Critics view the venture as unnecessary and designed to solve a problem that doesn't exist, particularly since courts have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Arizona's elections. Cochise County supervisors are set to vote on the contract with Authentix, despite concerns about the project's specificity and potential lack of competitiveness. Read ArticleArizona: Mohave County rejects proposal to hand-count ballots in 2024 elections | Josh Kelety/Associated Press
The Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 against adopting a proposal to hand-count ballots in the 2024 election cycle. The local elections director warned that implementing a hand count would cost over $1.1 million and require hiring hundreds of new workers. The board chair cited the county's projected budget deficit as the reason for rejecting the proposal. Mohave County is among several U.S. counties that have explored tabulating ballots by hand, but experts warn that hand counts are less reliable and more time-consuming than machine tabulation. Despite the lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, the prospect of hand counting ballots remains popular among some elected officials, activists, and voters who distrust U.S. elections and spread conspiracies about election equipment. Read ArticleArizona Republicans wanted to hand-count ballots. Then they saw the price tag — and the errors. | Jane C. Timm/NBC
The Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 against adopting a hand-counting process for ballots in the 2024 elections after discovering that it would cost over $1.1 million and result in inaccurate results. Some conservatives, including allies of former President Donald Trump, have advocated for hand-counting as a way to ensure election accuracy, but Mohave County's experience showed that it is expensive, impractical, and potentially unreliable. The test run of hand-counting 850 test ballots resulted in errors, including bored and tired staffers making mistakes, messy handwriting in tallies, and other issues. The total cost for the process, including staffing, security, and venue rental, was deemed too high and impractical for the county's projected budget deficit. Read ArticleArizona’s 11 Republican fake electors face state, federal scrutiny | Robert Anglen/Arizona Republic
A group of 84 people, including Republican officials, lawmakers, and candidates from seven swing states, falsely claimed to be alternate electors in a coordinated plot to keep Donald Trump in office after the 2020 presidential election. In Arizona, 11 top party officials and candidates avowed they were the state's "duly elected and qualified electors" and cast their votes for Trump, despite him not winning the state. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has launched an investigation into the state's fake electors, and similar probes have taken place in Nevada, Georgia, and Michigan. Read ArticleArizona: As push for hand-counting ballots continues, Republican senators emphasize legality, not practicality | Jen Fifield/Votebeat Arizona
Republican lawmakers in Arizona are touring the state to convince county decision-makers to hand-count ballots in the upcoming presidential election. They claim that it is legal to do so in Arizona, emphasizing that county officials are not mandated to use machines. The pitch is finding support among Republican voters who are skeptical of the security of machines, but election law attorneys disagree on the legality of hand-counting ballots. While some believe the lack of specificity in state law allows for hand-counting, others argue that it is illegal based on other sections of the law. Hand-counting ballots could pose significant challenges due to Arizona's notoriously long ballot and high turnout, making the process less accurate and efficient compared to using machines. The debate over legality is drawing attention away from other well-known issues with hand-counting and has the potential to result in a court battle at taxpayer expense. Read ArticleArizona: Cochise Supervisors’ quest for conducting 100% hand count continues in court | Summer Hom/AZPM
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors has filed an appeal after a judge ruled against their pursuit of a 100% hand count audit of the 2022 General Election, stating it violated Arizona election law. The board's attorney argued that state statute permits such an audit, citing the language requiring a randomized hand count audit of at least two percent of precincts or two precincts, whichever is greater. Another section of Arizona law allowing ballots to be counted by hand or machines was also invoked. The judge maintained the statute applies and is not superfluous, while an attorney representing the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans argued that Arizona law does not allow a full hand-count audit unless discrepancies trigger expanded audits. The appeals court has not set a timetable for its decision. Read ArticleArizona: Federal officials to test Maricopa County’s electronic poll books in pilot program | Sasha Hupka/Arizona Republic
Maricopa County is participating in a pilot program to test its electronic poll books, known as SiteBooks, in order to develop guidelines for poll book systems across the United States. The pilot program aims to standardize the security checks for electronic poll books, improve national security posture, and increase trust in elections. Maricopa County's SiteBooks, which connect to the internet and have unique features, have been hardened over the years to prevent unauthorized access. The testing and findings from the pilot program could inform further improvements to electronic poll book systems and provide guidance for jurisdictions nationwide. Read Article