A memorandum of understanding (MAU) between the Arizona Legislature and Runbeck Election Services on Monday, with Representative Alex Kolodin (R-Scottsdale) and Senator Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff) declaring it will significantly strengthen election integrity.
The legislature and Runbeck, which processes the mail-in ballots for Maricopa County, reached four key areas of agreement that include the release of some 2022 election video, and the lawmakers explained in a press release that the MAU marks “the culmination of an extensive examination of the company’s election processes.”
“Demonstrating a commitment to increasing public trust and transparency, Runbeck will grant legislative observers onsite access to view the company’s 2022 general election night loading dock video footage,” the MAU reveals.
Runbeck’s video from Election Day in 2022 became the subject of a legal case by We the People AZ Alliance. The effort was eventually shut down by a judge in November 2022.
Kolodin similarly requested the video from Runbeck, and expressed frustration with the company in a post to X, the website formerly known as Twitter, due to its refusal to provide election data to the Arizona Legislature while noting that their attorney is a relative of Governor Katie Hobbs.
The MAU agreed to by lawmakers and the company also allows for up to six election observers, with three representing Republicans and Democrats.
Runbeck also agreed to publish “a detailed document outlining its scope of work and election workflow” prior to the August 2024 primary, and additionally pledged the Arizona House of Representatives will be allowed “to conduct an audit of the software licensed to Maricopa County for signature verification and ballot duplication.”
That step, according to the MAU, “is aimed at verifying the integrity of the election process and ensuring that the software meets the highest standards of security and reliability.”
Further, the lawmakers will be allowed to publish their audit, which the lawmakers say will further reinforce transparency.
After it was reported in September 2023 that the brother of Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria) purchased an interest in the company, Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake questioned the ethics of the deal to The Arizona Sun Times.
Statements by Toma and Runbeck later clarified the Speaker had no ties to Runbeck, was only notified of the purchase shortly before it was made, and would be divesting his “very, very tiny part” of the his brother’s company.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Image “Runbeck Ballot Production” by Runbeck Election Services.
