Copy
February 9, 2024 View this email in a browser

Happy Friday! Jen Fifield, here. I spent the week at the state Capitol where I watched negotiations unfold in real-time as state leaders tried to figure out how to solve a problem with its 2024 election timeline. State leaders had until Friday to figure it out, or else risk the state not sending out ballots to military and overseas voters on time, and not finalizing its presidential election results on time.

That forced Democrats, Republicans, and state and county officials to work together on deadline. It was fascinating to watch the twists and turns. There were a few points, such as at a Monday news conference and at a Wednesday caucus meeting, I doubted they would get to an agreement. But it happened.

The fix is in! OK, maybe that’s not the best way to word it. No malfeasance will be allowed under this plan.

Read the big story below to learn more, and feel free to reach out with questions about the changes at jfifield@votebeat.org.

The Big Story

Closed-door meetings, tears: How Arizona leaders compromised to fix to the state’s election timeline crisis

Arizona has fixed a looming crisis for the election in a way that election officials say will allow them to submit presidential results to Congress in time. Republicans are touting the fix as a boon for election integrity, and Democrats say it protects voters in the long run.

State lawmakers voted nearly unanimously Thursday in favor of a bill meant to fix the problem by altering several deadlines in state law, including moving the primary election up a week to July 30. The vote came after months of fraught negotiation and a final, painstaking week of closed-door deliberations, and a couple of the negotiators teared up as they realized the bill would become law.

Our Latest Stories

New rule could disenfranchise counties that delay Arizona results, Republican lawsuit claims

In wide-ranging lawsuit over the new Elections Procedures Manual, Republican lawmakers allege the secretary of state can’t certify election without county results, even if they’re delayed.

Candidate for Arizona’s GOP chairmanship tried to stop 2022 election certification

Jim O’Connor pressured Maricopa County supervisors to delay certification “until all the facts come to light,” newly discovered email shows.

In Other Voting News
Chalkbeat Logo
Twitter Logo Twitter Logo

Did you receive this email from a friend?

Sign up to receive Votebeat newsletters.

Have a question or a tip for our journalists?

You can reach us at votebeat.org/contact.
Twitter Logo






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
Votebeat · 450 Seventh Avenue · 32nd Floor · New York, NY 10123 · USA