A majority of Arizona voters would support legislation aimed at increasing the speed of election results as lawmakers in the Arizona State Senate file legislation to emulate the rapid election tabulation seen in Florida.
The poll, released last Thursday by Noble Predictive Insights, found that 52 percent of Arizona voters want Arizona to “change its laws to maintain election integrity and count votes more quickly.”
According to the pollsters, 15 percent more Arizonans want the laws to change than the number who want them to remain the same, as just 37 percent said the current laws are “the best way to ensure a correct vote count.” An additional 11 percent of respondents told Noble Predictive Insights they were not sure.
The company said it surveyed 988 voters between November 20-25 and reported a 3.1 percent margin of error.
Data suggesting Arizonans will support changes to the state’s elections was reported as Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) filed legislation he said would result in same-day election results. He first announced the plans after Arizona became the last state to report the results of its presidential election.
“Today me and my colleagues will be introducing legislation to get election results night of,” wrote Petersen in a post to X. He added that Arizona, “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.”
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.
Speaker elect…
— Warren Petersen (@votewarren) December 11, 2024
Created after consulting with Florida election officials, Petersen’s SB 1011 would require voters to return mail-in ballots on the Friday prior to Election Day or else deliver them to their county recorder and make changes to the way ballots are processed for those who cast early ballots in person.
Petersen said on Saturday that he is “optimistic” that Governor Katie Hobbs will sign the bill if lawmakers pass it.
“Quite frankly, I’m optimistic she’ll sign it. When you have enough public sentiment, she’ll sign it, and we do on this issue. Public sentiment is totally with us on this issue,” said Petersen.
His optimism comes as Republicans have suggested allowing voters to decide the fate of legislation vetoed by the Democratic governor through referendums, citing voters’ decision to override Hobbs’ veto and pass the Secure The Border Act at the ballot box last month.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
