As Arizonans Begin Voting Tomorrow, Incumbent Republicans Worked to Make it Harder to Cast a Ballot
A snapshot into how Legislative Republicans have sought to weaken our democracy
ARIZONA – With less than 28 days until Election Day, Arizonans are making their plans to vote and exercise their fundamental right. However, many Republicans in the state legislature have attempted to undercut this right by sponsoring and supporting several bills that undermine the right to vote. Republicans have been shameless in their attacks on democratic participation that would make it harder for the more than four million eligible Arizonans to vote.
Republicans have made Arizona attract national headlines for their attempts to compromise our democracy. One in three Arizona lawmakers have been named election deniers and in 2023, Governor Hobbs vetoed over 20 bills that would’ve undermined our democracy. Here are some of the Republicans most egregious efforts since 2020:
Senator Shawnna Bolick (LD2) and Representatives Justin Wilmeth (LD2), Matt Gress (LD4), Julie Willoughby (LD13), Rachel Jones (LD17), and Cory McGarr (LD17) voted for HB2547. The bill sought to eliminate vote centers and end early voting. Nearly 90% of Arizonans vote early.
Reps. Gress, Martinez, McGarr, Peña, Willoughby, and Wilmeth voted to restrict vote centers and early voting.
Reps. Gress, Jones, Martinez, McGarr, Peña, Willoughby, and Wilmeth voted to eliminate early mail-in voting. 75% of Arizonans are signed up to vote by mail. In 2020, 89% of Arizona voters cast their ballots by mail.
Rep. McGarr introduced a bill to remove President Biden from the ballot if Trump were removed by a court.
Rep. Jones introduced legislation to eliminate mail-in voting and end the popular presidential vote in Arizona, instead allowing the legislature to award all of the state’s electoral votes.
Then-Representative Bolick introduced a bill to allow the legislature to certify or decertify state and local elections, opening the door for lawmakers to overrule the will of voters.
In 2020, then-Representative Bolick and Tony Rivero signed a resolution asking Congress to ignore Arizona’s electoral votes or accept the fake electors.
Senator Mesnard voted for HB2289 in committee, which would eliminate vote centers, vote by mail, and early voting.
Voters have an opportunity to fight back against these attempts and elect real leaders who know that Arizonans deserve a legislature that will protect their freedom to vote, not throw it out in favor of conspiracies.