After it voted last week to delay the certification of its election canvass past the statewide Monday deadline, the Republican-controlled Cochise County in rural Arizona is now facing a lawsuit, which was widely expected after the delay.
Filed on behalf of a local voter and the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans, the lawsuit argues that the three-member Cochise County Board of Supervisors doesn’t have the authority to hold up the election results, knocking them for evading Arizona law and for its baseless effort to call into question the 2022 general election results.
Citing concerns about the county’s vote-counting machines not being properly certified spouted by three conspiracy theorists, the Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 against the certification, opting instead to delay certifying the results until a Nov. 28 deadline.
They also filed a lawsuit against Cochise County’s elections director, demanding a hand count of ballots cast on Election Day, though the suit was later withdrawn.
Pointing out that the US Elections Assistance Commission had confirmed the voting machines in the county were in compliance though the labs used to test them did not receive updated certification ahead of the midterms, Arizona Elections Director Kori Lorick refuted the allegations made by the GOP supervisors during Friday’s meeting.
Lorick underscored that the equipment that Cochise County has used is properly certified under both federal and state laws and requirements.
The plaintiffs are now seeking to compel the county to comply with the voting process and canvass their results lawsuit- calling the board’s theories vague and unsubstantiated allegations – and contend in their lawsuit that by shirking the deadline, the Cochise County supervisors are violating Arizona law.
After the board first voted to postpone the canvass to Monday, the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans sent them a warning it’ll take legal action if the Board refuses to accept and canvass the election results on time in line with its mandatory statutory duty.
The board was also urged to certify the results on schedule by Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D), who stressed that if it refuses to certify the canvass by November 28, she’ll take all available legal action, including filing a special action to compel the Board’s compliance.
Be the first to comment