Arizona Governor Blocks Election Reform Bill Aimed at Speeding Up Results
In a decisive move on Thursday, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona vetoed a controversial bill that sought to accelerate the state’s election results. This bill, pioneered by Republican lawmakers and drawing inspiration from Florida’s election laws, would have required voters to submit early ballots days before the official election day.
The bill’s proponents argued that the measure would enable Arizona to deliver election results more swiftly. However, Gov. Hobbs had already signaled her intention to reject the bill before it reached her desk. She expressed concerns that the proposed changes could potentially disenfranchise a significant number of voters who traditionally drop off their ballots at polling stations on election day.
“I can support doing — taking action that will make election results happen faster, but we’re not going to do that in a way that disenfranchises voters, and that’s exactly what this bill does,” Hobbs stated, emphasizing her commitment to preserving voter rights.
This veto marks Hobbs’ first of the year, although she has previously set a record for the number of vetoes by an Arizona governor within her initial two years in office. She criticized the Republican legislators for their approach, saying, “If they were serious about negotiating a compromise that was fair for the voters they would have sat down and done that, not sent this to me as the first bill of the legislative session.”
Following the veto, GOP lawmakers released a statement accusing Hobbs of being “irresponsible” and criticized her for dismissing what they described as a “wildly popular bill.” Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) expressed disappointment, labeling the veto as a “huge mistake,” and hinted at potential future actions, including possibly placing the matter on the 2026 ballot for voters to decide.
“The governor’s veto is a huge mistake. This was a missed opportunity to increase voter confidence and reduce frustration on election night,” Petersen asserted. He further claimed that the governor obstructed attempts to improve the election process by not collaborating with Republicans in a constructive manner.
In her veto letter, Hobbs reiterated her support for faster election results, provided that such measures do not limit voter participation.
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