The battle within the Arizona government raged on this week as Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a Republican proposal for faster election results, citing increased restrictions on voters.
Arizona Republicans, who have majorities in both the state Senate and House, have called the legislation, House Bill 2703, one of their most important actions amidst calls from the public for increased election transparency.
For Arizona Democrats and Hobbs, the bill’s proposed voter restrictions have been non-starters, but Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican, called Tuesday’s veto “a missed opportunity to increase voter confidence and reduce frustration on election night.”
“This is not what Arizonans want from their state leaders,” he said.
“As promised, the first bill being sent to the governor this year is an election integrity measure,” Petersen said. “We are providing our citizens exactly what they’ve asked for.”
The Arizona Public Opinion Pulse polled almost 1,000 Arizona residents with a little over half – 52% agreeing that the state should change its laws and count votes more quickly.
In her veto, Hobbs did not disagree with HB 2703’s stated intent.
“While I too want faster election results, the solution should not needlessly restrict Arizona citizens’ freedom to vote,” said Hobbs. “Arizonans are relying on us to work together and put their rights ahead of any partisan agenda.”
Hobbs noted two attempted bipartisan amendments to the HB 2703 election results bill and a Democrat-sponsored bill Senate Bill 1653 that aimed to be more bipartisan. The Republican majority in the Senate rejected the proposals.
When asked for comment, Arizona Senate Republicans Director of Communications Kim Quintero sent a press release with no mention of either amendment or SB 1653.
Early ballots under the Republican-backed bill would have to be deposited at a voting location by 7 p.m. the Friday before election. Currently they can be turned in on Election Day. The bill allows ballots to be turned in on the Saturday and Monday before Election Day if the voter presents ID and signs an early voter affidavit.
In Maricopa and Pima counties, voters under the Republican legislation would have to confirm their addresses every year for mail-in ballots, while all other counties would need verification every other year.
Both Republicans and Democrats have said they want to speed up election result times. It is an issue that peaked in the 2020 election after Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud, but one that has remained relevant five years later.
Data from Noble Predictive Insights showed a roughly 10% national increase in voter confidence of the presidential election in 2024 from 2020.
“These numbers are a welcome reprieve from what we’ve seen in the past couple of cycles,” said NPI Chief of Research David Byler. “Voters should feel confident in the results of our elections – and it’s good that they do.”
