Arizona’s GOP Elections Committee Revival Sparks Renewed Voting Controversy

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

On the brink of the new legislative session, Arizona Republicans are establishing a new committee to scrutinize the state’s election processes. Titled the House Ad Hoc Committee on Election Integrity and Florida-Style Voting Systems, this initiative signifies that discussions about election policies will persist beyond the 2024 election.

Leading the committee will be GOP state Rep. Alex Kolodin, who advocates for a voting system modeled after Florida’s. His goal includes achieving swifter election outcomes, more accurate voter lists, and enhanced security for mail-in ballots. However, the push for these changes has already sparked disputes among lawmakers regarding their potential effectiveness.

One of Kolodin’s focal points is Florida’s restriction on mail ballot drop-offs on Election Day, a measure credited with expediting results. He also supports requiring mail voters to provide identification numbers, a move that has faced significant backlash from Democrats and voting rights advocates.

“Those are bad ideas,” stated Alex Gulotta, Arizona director of the voting rights organization All Voting is Local, expressing opposition to proposals perceived as reducing voter access. Governor Katie Hobbs has also indicated her unwillingness to endorse any legislation that could restrict voting rights, prompting Kolodin to consider presenting the committee’s final proposals as a ballot initiative directly to voters.

Joining Kolodin on the committee are fellow Republicans Rachel Keshel and John Gillette, as well as Democratic representatives Lydia Hernandez and Betty Villegas. This committee will operate independently from a standing committee that addresses election-related bills.

Accelerating the reporting of election results is also a legislative priority in the Arizona Senate. Currently, two bills—SB1001 and SB1011—have been laid out to regulate the parameters for mail ballot drop-offs. Despite Kolodin’s assertion of broad bipartisan support for faster results, a recent survey from Progress Arizona suggests that many voters favor maintaining existing policies that allow them to drop off mail ballots at polling stations on Election Day without waiting, a practice that contributes to delays in result verification.

Kolodin has emphasized the intention to create a space conducive to thoughtful discussions on election improvement. When questioned about the possibility of the committee becoming a platform for proponents of conspiracy theories, he clarified that the committee is intended to remain focused on technical matters rather than sensationalism. “If you’re looking for a good show, this is not going to be a committee for a good show,” Kolodin remarked.