Arizona Officials Turn to Florida for Insights on Swift Ballot Handling

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona Republican leaders are seeking to enhance their electoral processes by collaborating with Florida’s chief of elections. Recently, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen conducted a meeting with Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, aiming to explore Florida’s effective methods for counting votes on Election Day.

Petersen highlighted the meeting on social media, noting significant differences between the states’ election procedures. “As expected, a big difference is that we do not have a cutoff for early ballot drop-offs at polling places like they do,” he said. He expressed optimism about passing new legislation that would enable Arizona to report election results on the night of the election.

The meeting included various Arizona Republican officials, including Representatives Steve Montenegro, John Gillette, and several state senators. Petersen indicated that implementing a cutoff of 7 p.m. on the Friday before elections for ballot drop-offs could be a straightforward solution to speed up result reporting.

Secretary Byrd responded positively to the discussions, acknowledging the exchange of ideas on how Florida’s election code facilitates timely and accurate ballot counting. He expressed willingness to share Florida’s blueprint with Arizona.

Senator Shawna Bolick, who participated in the call, remarked on past efforts to address electoral inefficiencies in Arizona, citing frustrations with bills that had been vetoed or rejected. “Our voters are tired of being the laughingstock of the country,” she stated, emphasizing the need for prompt election results.

Bolick proposed that revising current practices—such as not allowing voters to return mail-in ballots at polling places on Election Day—could significantly improve efficiency. She is confident that the legislature would support funding for measures ensuring timely results.

State Senator Wendy Rogers, who was also on the call, expressed her enthusiasm about learning from Florida’s successes. She emphasized the importance of adapting best practices to Arizona’s context.

Incoming Supervisor Debbie Lesko reflected on the call, underscoring the need for bipartisan cooperation to implement essential reforms in Arizona’s election system. She noted the admiring gaze Florida receives for its election policies and the potential for meaningful changes in Arizona.

With the next legislative session commencing in January, Arizona Republicans have identified election reform as a key priority. However, they may encounter opposition from Democrats and Governor Katie Hobbs, who has previously vetoed various election-related bills.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.