The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 23, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
We’re in Arizona today, where a new and normally mundane Election Procedure Manual for election officials has attracted not one, not two, but three GOP lawsuits.
Arizona’s Secretary of State issued the updated manual in January, after review by the state’s governor and attorney general, and a 15-day public comment period.
January 31st, House and Senate GOP leaders challenged six new provisions, one of which tells counties they must certify elections by the statewide deadline, or risk county results not being counted by the state. In 2022, conspiracy theory-driven Cochise County commissioners tried to block certification.
Another suit by the national and state Republican committees argues that the 15-day public comment period should have been 30 days, and takes issue with seven provisions, including allowing early voting mail ballots to be sent out of state, and allowing federal-only voters with no citizenship papers to vote in Presidential elections. The Arizona GOP has used proof of citizenship as a voter suppression tactic aimed at Native American voters, some of whom do not have birth certificates.
A suit filed February 13th by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club contends new rules protecting voters from threats and intimidation violate the free speech rights of poll watchers. The rules come after masked and armed vigilantes were stationed at ballot drop boxes in 2022.
We have more details on the suits linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Democracy Docket – Arizona Republicans Challenge Elections Procedure Manual
Arizona Mirror/Votebeat – Arizona Republicans sue Adrian Fontes over election manual, claiming disenfranchisement
National Republican Committee/Arizona GOP – Arizona Superior Court Claim
Arizona Mirror – GOP sues Fontes over Election Procedures Manual
Associated Press – Group challenges restrictions in Arizona election manual on ballot drop-off locations
Groups Taking Action:
Native American Rights Fund, League of Women Voters Arizona, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, Voto Latino
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