PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs reaffirmed her opposition to changes in the state’s early voting laws on Thursday, rejecting Republican-led efforts to address the pace of election result tabulations. Hobbs emphasized her commitment to preserving voter accessibility, asserting that any changes making it harder for Arizonans to vote are unacceptable.
“My line in the sand has been and will continue to be anything that makes it harder for Arizonans to vote is a ‘no’ for me,” Hobbs said during a press conference. “This includes the flexibility we have with early voting.”
Current Early Voting Practices in Arizona
Under Arizona law, voters can drop off early ballots until 7 p.m. on Election Day. However, processing these “late-early” ballots, which involves signature verification and a five-day curing period for provisional ballots, often delays the final results.
Hobbs defended the current system, stressing that the focus should be on accuracy rather than speed.
“We need to be focused on making sure that we get the results right, not faster,” Hobbs said. “Dropping off ballots on Election Day should not be a problem.”
Republican Push for Reforms
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced plans to meet with Florida election officials to explore legislative changes aimed at expediting election results. Florida’s laws, which yield faster election outcomes, could serve as a model for reforms in Arizona, Petersen suggested.
During the last legislative session, Hobbs vetoed several GOP-backed bills targeting early voting, citing concerns over voter accessibility and fairness.
Challenges in the 2024 General Election
Hobbs pointed to the two-page ballot for Arizona’s 2024 general election as a significant factor in processing delays. The lengthy ballot, which included 11 legislative referendums, contributed to the slow pace of tabulation.
“Part of the issue is that we had a two-page ballot that made processing take longer and harder,” Hobbs said. “The legislature caused this. They referred a whole bunch of measures to the ballot. So this is really on them.”
Hobbs Stresses Accuracy Over Speed
Despite frustrations over the extended timeline for results, Hobbs stood by her commitment to accuracy, stating that ensuring voter access should take precedence over rapid reporting.
“Making it harder for Arizonans to vote is not the answer,” Hobbs concluded.
As the debate over early voting laws continues, Hobbs’ vetoes and public statements set the stage for renewed battles in the upcoming legislative session.
