PHOENIX — A bipartisan task force created by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs approved more than a dozen ideas Tuesday for improving Arizona's elections.
But it remains unclear how many will ever benefit voters, election workers or the conduct of state elections.
Hobbs created the task force seven months ago. The meetings were held behind closed doors.
The 16 proposals the task force approved could be considered aspirational. Many would require the support of the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature to take effect.
Here are four takeaways from the panel's 16 recommendations:
Extend the state's voter intimidation laws to cover harassment at ballot drop boxes.
During the 2022 election campaign, armed men wearing tactical gear showed up near a ballot drop box in Mesa. Their presence intimidated voters. Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone dispatched deputies to keep an eye on drop boxes.
Make it easier for all voters to cast early ballots in person on the weekend before an election.
Right now the weekend is reserved for emergency voting.
Deal with a potential 2024 election crisis tied to the state's new recount law.
The law could delay the results of a close presidential vote beyond the deadline for certifying the winner. One possible solution among many: restore the old recount law.
Fixing this problem is widely considered to be on the must-do list early in the next year's legislative session.
The boldest proposal calls for the automatic restoration of a felon's voting rights after being released from prison.
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