PHOENIX — In his final weeks in office, Gov. Doug Ducey has some thoughts on Arizona's elections. In particular, he's weighing in with a proposal that he believes will allow voters to know the results faster.
“I want to say I have trust in Arizona's elections. And I think we do them well," said Gov. Doug Ducey.
After signing off on the certification of the 2022 election Monday, Ducey noted Arizona's elections have changed.
“Our elections have become much more competitive," Ducey said. "We've become much more consequential to the electoral map.”
That's why frustrations were high among many after election night came and went with many key races not getting called.
“The issue right now is not as much accuracy as it is urgency," Ducey said.
Ducey notes the biggest holdup was the record high 290,000 early ballots dropped off on Election Day. They were then brought back to county elections departments to go through a thorough verification process before being tabulated. That process takes days.
Ducey believes there is a solution to counting those votes faster.
“You could have them fed. You could have voter ID presented. They would have to be removed from the envelope and fed through the machine," Ducey explained.
Earlier this year, that very idea was included in SB1362 making it an option that counties declined to provide.
“I would like us to have the winner decided the day of the election, the day following in a highly competitive race or as close as we can get," Ducey said.
Adrian Fontes, the incoming Democrat secretary of state, was not an immediate fan of Ducey's idea.
"While I appreciate the outgoing Governor's suggestions for elections, I believe that our local election officials are best positioned to identify solutions to challenges surrounding elections," said Fontes in an emailed statement.
"We don't need knee-jerk policy proposals that could have a potentially negative impact on complex systems. I look forward to working with the new legislature, the Governor-elect, Republicans, Democrats, and particularly county election officials to find solutions that have long-term benefits for voters."
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AFTER ELECTION NIGHT CAME AND WENT –
AND MANY RACES WERE NOT CALLED.
“the issue right now is not as much accuracy as it is urgency.”
DUCEY NOTES THE BIGGEST HOLD UP WAS THE RECORD HIGH 290-THOUSAND EARLY BALLOTS DROPPED OFF ON ELECTION DAY –
BROUGHT BACK TO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENTS TO GO THROUGH A THOROUGH VERIFICATION PROCESS BEFORE BEING TABULATED –
WHICH TAKES DAYS.
DUCEY BELIEVES THERE’S A SOLUTION TO COUNTING THOSE VOTES FASTER.
“you could have them fed, you could have voter ID presented that would have to be removed from the envelope and fed through the machine.”
FEEDING EARLY BALLOTS THROUGH A TABULATOR ON ELECTION DAY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR –
THAT VERY IDEA WAS INCLUDED IN A BILL –
MAKING IT AN OPTION –
WHICH COUNTIES DECLINED TO PROVIDE.
“I would like us to have the winner decided the day of the election the day following in a highly competitive race or as close as we can get.”
ADRIAN FONTES –
THE INCOMING DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY OF STATE –
NOT AN IMMEDIATE FAN OF DUCEY’S PROPOSAL –
TELLING 12 NEWS IN A STATEMENT –
“I believe that our local election officials are best positioned to identify solutions to challenges surrounding elections. We don’t need knee-jerk policy proposals that could have a potentially negative impact on complex systems.”
(BIANCA TAG)
WHETHER THAT IDEA MOVES FORWARD OR NOT –
ONE THING IS CERTAIN.
PROPOSALS TO OUR ELECTION WILL BE TOP OF MIND FOR SEVERAL LAWMAKERS IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.
GUYS?
(ANCHOR QUESTION)
AND BIANCA SPEAKING OF THE ELECTION –
IS THERE ANY UPDATE ON LAWSUITS OR CHALLENGES FILED BY CANDIDATES LIKE KARI LAKE?
(BIANCA RESPONSE)
GUYS –
SO FAR –
NOTHING.
DESPITE VOWING TO FILE A LAWSUIT -
KARI LAKE’S TEAM –
TELLING ME THEY WERE NOT FILING ANYTHING TODAY –
AND REMEMBER AFTER YESTERDAY’S CERTIFICATION –
THEY ONLY HAVE A FIVE DAY WINDOW TO DO SO.