On the day of the presidential preference election, March 22, Reagan asked a member of her staff to collect ballots from workers in the Capitol’s Executive Tower, including the Governor’s Office. Reagan admitted collecting ballots in an interview with Capitol Media Services. This admission elicited cries of hypocrisy from critics who said she had violated House Bill 2023, which outlaws most early ballot collection. Reagan had supported the legislation, which Gov. Doug Ducey signed on March 9. The legislation, which takes effect this summer, makes unauthorized ballot collection a Class 6 felony. The law, intended to prevent voter fraud, exempts election officials and postal workers engaged in their “official duties,” as well as a voter’s family members, caregiver, or member of their household. Reagan told Capitol Media Services her actions would not have violated the law had it been in effect because she and her staff would be considered “election officials” performing “official duties.”
It is true that Reagan and her staff have gone through the election certification process – required classes to certify election officers in the state. But the “official duties” of the Secretary of State’s Office don’t include collecting ballots.
Arizona State University law professor Paul Bender said: “The problem is that she says she has a special ability. Her duties do not include collecting ballots.”
Election-law attorney Kory Langhofer told AZ Fact Check that while it is true the secretary of state is Arizona’s chief elections officer, the office doesn’t administer elections. That duty is left to county clerks.
Full Article: Fact Check: Michele Reagan’s duties don’t include collecting ballots.