Concerns Over Arizona’s Election Integrity and Timeliness

Recently, Maricopa County began construction on new, advanced tally and election centers intended to expedite the vote counting process. However, there’s a significant concern: unless the Arizona Legislature updates the current election laws, this investment may ultimately be in vain. The state has developed a reputation for delayed voting results, and it’s becoming quite a source of frustration.

Interestingly, while many states are moving toward election reform, Arizona seems to be struggling with maintaining integrity in its election processes. The lengthy election season has posed multiple challenges. After a notably high turnout of 80.34% in last fall’s elections, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors chairman is urging collaboration among Arizona lawmakers, including Governor Katie Hobbs, to support the Common Sense Election Act. This act aims to streamline processes and take cues from Florida’s successful election reforms.

As the second-largest voting district in the United States, Maricopa County faced considerable delays last November, taking 11 days to count over 2 million votes. This sluggish pace often leaves voters waiting weeks for election results, largely due to existing legal timelines. It’s not uncommon for early mail-in voters to see their ballots counted much later than expected, leading to confusion. In fact, during last fall’s elections, around 30% of early voters—about 631,000 individuals—added pressure to the counting process.

There’s a palpable sense of impatience from the nation regarding Arizona’s actions. During the current legislative session, the majority of Arizona Republicans proposed a measure aimed at hastening the results. Unfortunately, it was quickly dismissed by Gov. Hobbs, who contended that such actions ignored the voices of Arizona voters.

In recent legislative sessions, there’s been a push in Arizona to adopt reforms similar to those implemented in Florida, designed to enhance the efficiency of election outcomes. Yet, some fellow Republicans have blocked vital laws aimed at strengthening election integrity, which include measures to hasten vote counting and restrict foreign contributions in elections.

This year marked yet another attempt by the Arizona Legislature to curtail vote drop-off times and prohibit foreign funding in elections. I remember sponsoring a bill last year that aimed to ban such contributions. Sadly, despite its Senate approval, it didn’t progress in the House. Despite the Chairman of the Freedom Caucus not voting, some hope remains, as the Senate managed to bring the House bill back. Still, it lacked the necessary votes to pass.

Since being elected to Congress in 2018, I’ve focused on promoting election integrity. I’ve collaborated with various experts in the field and have previously voiced my opposition to a shift toward universal mail-in voting, especially during the pandemic. At an Election Integrity Gathering I attended in Scottsdale, we discussed how foreign contributions can unduly influence elections, similar to initiatives passed in Louisiana to ban such funding.

In December, I participated in a national meeting with election integrity experts, working on proposals to eliminate foreign influence in state elections. We aimed to send a measure to voters by November 2026 that would allow them to decide on these issues alongside other important voting measures. Sadly, despite a thorough stakeholder process, the bill failed to gather enough support in the legislature.

If you find yourself frustrated by delayed election results in Arizona, it’s important to recognize that much of that responsibility falls on specific political maneuverings. Many of us in the state Legislature are dedicated to ensuring election integrity, striving to provide voters with the transparency they expect.