On November 9, 2024, Arizona was called for Donald Trump, but not until four days after Election Day, which has raised concerns. As the President of the Arizona Senate, I believe we need to ensure that voters receive timely results, especially in pivotal battleground states.
The presidential election results were disclosed during the early hours of November 6. However, Arizona’s slow counting process can create unnecessary anxiety and potentially sow distrust, particularly if the vote margins were tighter. We don’t have to accept this situation. We’re looking into common-sense, bipartisan reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and speeding up the process without losing integrity.
If the Governor doesn’t collaborate with the Legislature on meaningful reforms, we plan to appeal directly to voters in the November general election.
Take Florida as a case in point. In recent cycles, it has managed to tally most votes within hours of the polls closing. They assign electors swiftly, allowing the country to move forward effectively.
Florida didn’t reach this point by mere chance. The “hanging chad” incident during the 2000 election compelled the state to craft clearer rules and smoother procedures to rebuild trust. Fast forward to 2024, over 3 million Floridians voted by mail, while more than 5 million opted for early voting, and over 2.5 million cast their votes on Election Day. Remarkably, by midnight, Florida had counted 99% of those ballots—an efficiency standard Arizona should aim for.
What allows Florida to achieve this level of efficiency?
First, they have designated lanes for voting by mail, early voting, and in-person voting on Election Day, with specific procedures for each. This clarity helps voters understand what to expect.
Second, Florida has strict regulations on Election Day drop-offs. Mail-in ballots can be returned to early voting sites, but on Election Day, they must go directly to election officials, not just any polling place.
Third, unnecessary handling of envelopes for early voting is eliminated. Voters cast their ballots without needing to deal with multiple envelopes, simplifying the process.
Fourth, Florida provides key numbers on election night. Counties report the number of mail-in ballots received and those still unprocessed, a transparency that mitigates panic and frustration among voters nationwide.
My team, alongside state senators and various officials, recently met with Florida’s Secretary of State to explore how Arizona might adopt similar reforms. We hope to garner support from Democrats and local officials because issues like election integrity and efficiency shouldn’t be partisan. Yet, there often seems to be pushback from the left against changes aimed at boosting voter confidence.
In 2023, my Republican colleagues and I pushed a bill that required voters who mailed their ballots to meet the same ID requirements as in-person voters. The intention was to ease the burdens associated with verifying signatures on countless ballots, a major factor in Arizona’s delayed results.
Despite growing support for quicker election results—even from some expected quarters—the bill was vetoed by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Her veto message was vague, merely stating that the bill “does not meaningfully address the real challenges facing Arizona voters.”
This pattern of refusing to consider reforms continues. Despite public demand for expedient election results, the Governor and her allies remain resistant.
Arizonans deserve better than to contend with delays and uncertainty. If the Governor remains uncooperative, we’ll reach out directly to voters in the upcoming general election. If Democrats don’t resolve these issues, Arizonans will take matters into their own hands.
Republicans in the Arizona Legislature have reintroduced a reform bill tailored specifically for Arizona. We can learn from models that work, as shown by Florida, which demonstrates that speed and integrity can coexist.
Concerns about election integrity, transparency, and timely results aren’t confined to one party. They affect all Americans. Arizona is positioned to deliver trustworthy results on election night if we commit to necessary changes.
