Gov. Katie Hobbs Vetos Several Major Election Security Bills In Arizona

Arizona’s Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed four bills that sought to improve election security in the state.

The move has left the state’s lawmakers outraged after the rejected bills had passed the Arizona House and Senate.

The measures made several major improvements to the Copper State’s election laws.

The bills were set to bolster security for the voter registration system, poll site procedures, and the handling of mail-in ballots.

This latest action from Hobbs raises her total number of vetos to 99.

The number is now larger than that of any previous Arizona governor.

One of the bills, Senate Bill 1135, proposed to pull Arizona from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and move voter registration to “a contracted third party.”

The bill also specified that voters must use a blue or black pen to fill the ballot.

Hobbs insists ERIC is essential and helps improve election integrity.

“I have vetoed SB 1135,” she said in the veto letter.

“This bill would prohibit Arizona from remaining part of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which is an essential tool in ensuring accurate voter registration rolls in Arizona and across the country.

“It is unfortunate that many Republicans in the Legislature … send to my desk a bill that would prevent Arizona from joining organizations that actually help improve the integrity of our elections.”

Hobbs also vetoed Senate Bill 1105, which would allow election workers to tabulate early ballots at polling sites on Election Day.

“The county recorder or other county officer in charge of elections shall do all of the following for the on-site tabulation of early ballots,” the bill proposed.

The on-site tabulation would be “very difficult for election officials to implement,” Hobbs said.

One of the four rejected bills, Senate Bill 1066, would have required “Not from a Government Agency” to be printed clearly on the envelopes of documents sent by voter registration organizations.

Senate Bill 1180 proposed to ban organizations from paying employees based on the number of voter registrations they collect.

Arizona State Senator and President Pro Tempore John Kavanagh, a primary sponsor of two of the rejected bills, said he’s disappointed with Hobbs’ decision.

“I still stand on the side of transparency, and I’m sorry the governor wasn’t with me,” he told The Arizona Republic.

Arizona’s constitution states that a two-thirds vote is needed to overturn a veto.

However, it’s unlikely the Arizona Republicans will have the votes to override Hobbs’ vetoes.

Arizona’s legislature comprises 60 members in the state House and 30 in the state Senate.

Republicans hold a majority in both the state House and Senate.

Nevertheless, they do not have enough votes to overturn a veto and would need the support of Democrats.