The Round Up: Election Countdown
The legislature approves new election measures — what that means for voters and candidates alike.
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Last week, state leaders were busy trying to reach a compromise on legislation that would establish the state’s election timeline for this year. These efforts served as a major focus for both legislators and Governor Katie Hobbs. An agreement ultimately manifested after extensive bipartisan talks. While electoral issues will continue to garner a significant amount of attention going forward in 2024, it is likely that the same can be said about the border: Lawmakers from both parties prioritized legislation last week intended to curb recent spikes of illegal immigration in the state. Perhaps more notably, federal lawmakers even voted on the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border. While the Republican-backed initiative ultimately failed, it signals a growing dissatisfaction among party members with the current state of the border.
Moving forward, lawmakers are set to meet for some of the final hearings of the legislative session this week. It should be fairly busy at the Capitol as committee leaders seek to squeeze in testimony ahead of the legislature’s “crossover week”–which takes place the following week. Hearings related to the border, education, and elections are unsurprisingly set to take center stage this week.
Election Calendar Finalized
After months of negotiation with Governor Katie Hobbs, lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan compromise in order for Arizona’s eleven electoral votes to count in this fall’s Presidential election. First introduced on February 5, Representative Alexander Kolodin’s HB 2785 ensures that the state’s election procedures comply with federal guidelines. As members of both parties have come to blame the 2022 automatic recount law for expected delays in the announcement of election results, the new proposal would make sure that counties are prepared for their responsibilities in a timely manner this year. According to a House Republican release, the proposal–now law–will make “critical election integrity reforms to improve election procedures and strengthen voter confidence.”
Last Thursday, the House voted to approve HB 2785 with a lopsided 56-2 vote. That same day, the legislation passed through the Senate by a 24-2 margin, with all Democrats supporting. Just a day later, Governor Hobbs announced her intention to sign HB 2785. In her February 9 release, Governor Hobbs subsequently emphasized the need to “solve Arizona’s election timeline issue, protect voting rights and ensure every Arizonan can have their voice heard at the ballot box.”
According to the Senate Republicans’ release, the bill includes the following reforms among others:
County elections officials will be provided with an extra 19 days in the primary election calendar and an extra 17 days in the general election calendar in order to meet several important federal deadlines.
Men and women who are serving in our armed forces overseas will be guaranteed the opportunity to cast a ballot in our elections.
For the first time since mail-in ballots were introduced in Arizona, signature verification standards will be enshrined into statute.
This year, a hard count of early ballots dropped off at the polls by voters on election day will be required to improve security and confidence that all lawful votes will be counted accurately.
In 2026, voters may bring their early ballots to the polls on election day and have them counted immediately after showing identification, allowing voters to skip signature verification so that results can be tabulated in a prompt manner and the correct winner declared in a timelier fashion.
In 2026, voters will have more choices for polling locations since state and county buildings will be designated as official sites.
Governor Katie Hobbs: “I am proudly signing our bipartisan compromise to safeguard free, fair, and secure elections in Arizona. With this bill, we are making sure every eligible Arizonan can have their voice heard at the ballot box. We protected voters’ rights, we kept the partisan priorities out, and we demonstrated to the country that democracy in our state is strong. Thank you to Republicans and Democrats in the legislature who put partisan politics aside to deliver this important victory for the people of Arizona. Moving forward, I hope we will continue working together in this spirit of bipartisanship and do what’s right for the citizens of our great state.”
Representative Alexander Kolodin: “There were many simpler ways to solve this problem, some of which do not require legislative solutions. Nevertheless, we negotiated in good faith and agreed to accept this more complicated solution in exchange for signature verification and several other common sense reforms. It should be noted that the problem this bill seeks to avoid is highly unlikely to occur in 2024.”
Senate Elections Committee Chair Wendy Rogers: “HB 2785 corrects unintended election deadline conflicts stemming from 2022 bipartisan legislation to improve voter confidence on tight races. As part of the reforms outlined, for the first time since mail-in ballots were introduced in Arizona, signature verification standards will be enshrined into statute. Men and women who are serving in our armed forces overseas will be guaranteed the opportunity to cast a ballot in our elections. This year, a hard count of early ballots dropped off at the polls by voters on election day will be required to improve security and confidence that all lawful votes will be counted accurately. Additionally, in 2026, voters may bring their early ballots to the polls on election day and have them counted immediately after showing identification for timely results.”
Senate Democratic Leader Mitzi Epstein: "From the moment negotiations began we had the simple request that the fix to this issue must not be weaponized to harm voters, and today I can confidently say that we have been successful. I applaud the work of Senator Priva Sundareshan and our staff that made sure this hard-fought bipartisan solution made it across the finish line. This is a moment of celebration because collaboration works. Arizonans have asked time and again for us to find common-sense bipartisan solutions to the state's biggest problems and we have delivered."
House Democratic Leader Lupe Contreras: "Our goal was a clean fix, and this bill comes very close. It's not perfect, but it is a true bi-partisan compromise that will protect voters and help keep our elections free, fair, and secure. I'm proud of the work our members did to keep this plan alive and moving forward, including Representative Laura Terech who was instrumental to our success.”
State Border Bills
Amid recent reports highlighting the increased flow of migrants into the Tucson region, state lawmakers have continued to prioritize reforms at the southern border. Last week, members of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety & Border Security approved two pieces of legislation intended to curb this influx. Introduced by Senator Janae Shamp, SB 1231 is a comprehensive piece of border security legislation that has attracted thirteen co-sponsorships. Additionally, Senator David Gowan’s bipartisan SB 1408 would “create tougher punishments for those who engage in” reckless driving–as the Committee recently received testimony that “there have been nearly 500 similar pursuits in Cochise County by illegals from 2022 to 2023.”
Senator Janae Shamp: “The Arizona Border Invasion Act will make it a crime to enter our state anywhere but a lawful entrance point. Through both inaction and opposition, Democrat politicians are supporting the humanitarian crisis at the border. They’re supporting the increase in human smuggling, sex trafficking, rape, murder, modern day slavery, and the fentanyl crisis…This bill has unanimous support from the Sheriff’s Association.”
Senator David Gowan: “The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office reports another illegal alien, previously arrested in the U.S., prompted a high-speed chase through my district while evading law enforcement in a stolen vehicle with a loaded handgun. He fled after crashing the vehicle, but deputies captured him. According to testimony this week in the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety & Border Security, there have been nearly 500 similar pursuits in Cochise County by illegals from 2022 to 2023. These criminals top speeds of 120 mph, threatening the lives of our citizens. I’m happy to report my bill, SB 1408, which will create tougher punishments for those who engage in this illegal activity, passed out of committee with bipartisan support.”
Other Relevant Announcements
House fails to impeach Mayorkas, a blow to Arizona's far-right members. Here's what happened (February 6, 2024) - “House Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, a blow to the House’s farthest-right bloc that had been pushing the idea. The vote failed at a razor-thin margin of 216-214 because four Republicans broke from their party to oppose the impeachment resolution… Arizona’s congressional delegation was split along party lines, with all three of its Democratic members opposing the measure, and all six Republicans voting in favor of it.”
AccelerateAZ Announces NXP Semiconductors as New Partner of Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator Program (February 6, 2024) - “Plug and Play accelerateAZ, a program of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), announced today NXP® Semiconductors as the newest corporate partner in the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program, joining previously-announced partners Intel, Honeywell Aerospace, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. Plug and Play accelerateAZ will connect Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program startups to NXP Semiconductors to foster further collaboration. ‘We are excited to welcome NXP Semiconductors as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator program,’ said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. ‘NXP Semiconductors is a key contributor to Arizona’s semiconductor growth, joining other corporate partners to support Arizona startups’.”
Attorney General Mayes Issues Bipartisan Warning to Suspected Election Scam AI Robocallers (February 8, 2024) - “Attorney General Mayes this week sent a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election. The calls allegedly used artificial intelligence to impersonate the president and discourage voters from participating in the primary. ‘Using AI to impersonate the President and lie to voters is beyond unacceptable,’ said Attorney General Mayes. ‘Deceptive practices such as this have no place in our democracy and will only further erode public trust in our electoral process. I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general in pushing back against this fraud’.”
AZGOP Leads Charge to Protect Arizona Elections, Sues Secretary of State Fontes (February 9, 2024) - “Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP), the Republican National Committee (RNC), and Yavapai County GOP announced a joint election integrity lawsuit against Arizona’s Democrat Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. This lawsuit regards Fontes’s new Election Procedures Manual (EPM), which is designed to undermine election integrity.”
President Petersen Leads Coalition in Legal Battle Against Joe Biden's Unlawful, Dictator-Style Land Grab in Arizona (February 12, 2024) - As promised, Senate President Warren Petersen is suing the Biden Administration following an unlawful, dictator-style land grab last summer in northern Arizona. The complaint, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, attempts to reverse Biden's confiscation of nearly a million acres of land within Coconino and Mohave Counties, now designated as a ‘national monument.’ Joining the lawsuit with President Petersen on behalf of the Arizona State Legislature is House Speaker Ben Toma. State Treasure Kimberly Yee, Mohave County, Colorado City, and Fredonia are also part of the coalition seeking to terminate Biden's unilateral move establishing the monument.”
This round-up was written by Jared (JJ) Cichoke. He currently works as a Policy Analyst after previously holding various roles with Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he recently moved to Arizona after spending nearly his entire life in Portland, Oregon.