PHOENIX — Arizona’s delayed ballot counting in the 2024 general election has drawn sharp criticism from state Republicans, who are advocating for legislative changes to improve the speed of results.
In response, lawmakers fast-tracked a bill to expedite the ballot counting process by adjusting early voting drop-off timelines. However, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the legislation, citing concerns over access for voters.
Negotiations aimed at reaching a compromise fell through, with Gov. Hobbs emphasizing that the proposed changes would disenfranchise voters rather than ensure quicker election results.
Arizona’s ballot counting is often slower than other states due to mandated signature verification for mail-in ballots, with voters currently able to drop off mail ballots until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Recent elections have taken nearly two weeks to finalize results.
Republican Senate President Warren Petersen criticized the veto as a “huge mistake” and proposed a four-day reduction in the mail ballot drop-off deadline, citing support from county recorders. He argued that this change would align Arizona with faster reporting systems like Florida’s.
House Speaker Steve Montenegro accused Democratic lawmakers of obstructing reforms intended to enhance the timeliness and transparency of election results. He indicated that further proposals could allow voters to decide on the drop-off changes and other election reforms.
While Arizona has been a leader in vote-by-mail since the 1990s, the increasing closeness of statewide races has intensified scrutiny over the counting speed, particularly for key races affecting the presidency and congressional seats.
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap criticized the veto as shortsighted, while Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis noted that an earlier deadline could have enabled officials to collect and verify the majority of mail ballots before Election Day.
Lewis argued that implementing a Friday drop-off deadline would have allowed voters to correct signature verification issues at the polls, reducing delays after Election Night. Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly raised concerns that the changes would negatively affect voters in rural and tribal communities.
