by Cameron Arcand
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is seeking election administration reforms similar to what exists in Florida in the upcoming legislative session in hopes of delivering faster results.
Senate Bill 1011 would end the drop off of mail-in ballots at 7 p.m. on the Friday prior to Election Day, which would be a major change from the drop-offs that are available until polls close on Election Day currently.
Mail-in ballots dropped off closer to Election Day, also known as “late earlies,” are often attributed to the length of time it takes to count ballots in the Grand Canyon State.
“Today me and my colleagues will be introducing legislation to get election results night of. AZ will no longer be the laughing stock of the nation and the last to announce electoral votes. The bill will incorporate the key differences between AZ and FL,” Petersen tweeted Wednesday.
In addition, the bill would require an early voting certificate to be signed by a voter as opposed to a mail affidavit envelope for those voting early in-person.
“Arizonans deserve timely and transparent election results. House Republicans will introduce legislation to move up the deadline for dropping off early ballots, ensuring counties have adequate time to process them before Election Day,” incoming state House Speaker Steve Montenegro tweeted on Wednesday.
However, some Democrats have expressed concerns that the proposed changes could hinder the ability for people to cast their ballot by limiting the drop off time frame.
“This is voter suppression plain and simple. Voters overwhelmingly support accessibility over speed of results. Let every eligible voter VOTE,” Sen.-elect Analise Ortiz, D-Phoenix, tweeted.
If the bill, which will also have a House equivalent, passes the Republican majority legislature, it will land on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk.
“Faster election results should not come at the expense of voters’ rights,” Christian Slater, spokesman for Hobbs, told The Center Square in a statement. “As the State’s former chief elections officer, Governor Hobbs is open to proposals to speed up the counting process, but any solution must protect Arizonans’ freedom to make their voices heard at the ballot box. She remains committed to a voting process that maintains accessibility and integrity for all Arizona voters and guarantees safe, secure and fair elections.”
The speed of results has been a focal point in Arizona in recent elections, as the state holds many elections that yield close results.
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Cameron Arcand is a staff reporter at The Center Square.
Photo “Election Day” by Tim Evanson CC2.0.
