Hobbs Strikes Down Arizona GOP’s Move to Eliminate Election Day Drop-off Ballots

Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a Republican-backed proposal aimed at expediting election results in Arizona. The proposed legislation, patterned after Florida’s policies, would have significantly changed the voting process, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of residents.

The initiative, known as House Bill 2703, passed through the House of Representatives on February 12 with a vote of 32-27, and shortly after, cleared the Senate by a margin of 16-10. Notably, only Republican legislators supported the bill. Republicans hailed the proposal as “wildly popular” and engaged in a campaign, urging Hobbs to reconsider her stance.

However, Hobbs announced her intention to veto the bill before it reached her desk, citing a lack of compromise from Republican lawmakers. She criticized their unwillingness to amend the proposal, while GOP leaders redirected the blame, claiming she was obstructing necessary reforms.

If implemented, the legislation would have banned the dropping off of early ballots at polling places on Election Day. Instead, voters would need to either visit the county recorder’s office before 7 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election or show ID at polling locations before submitting their early ballots to tabulators. This change would have affected the 264,000 Arizonans—nearly 8% of those who voted—who dropped off their ballots on Election Day in the previous November election.

The bill also aimed to compel voters on the Active Early Voter List to confirm their address for each election or risk removal from the list. Moreover, it proposed designating schools as polling places upon county requests and extending in-person early voting to the day before the election.

In her veto letter, Hobbs emphasized the necessity of providing easier access to voting rather than imposing additional hurdles. “While I too want faster election results, the solution should not needlessly restrict Arizona citizens’ freedom to vote,” she wrote. “This legislation effectively ends the Active Early Voting List, which disenfranchises voters by adding extra steps.”

This veto marks her first of the 2025 legislative session. Hobbs has consistently maintained that she would oppose any measures that complicate the voting process. She expressed willingness to support alternative reforms that would expedite vote counting while maintaining voter access. However, she claims Republicans dismissed those proposals.

Senate President Warren Petersen criticized the governor’s decision as a “huge mistake,” viewing it as an opportunity lost to enhance voter confidence and reduce election night frustrations. He expressed disappointment with Hobbs for not cooperating with Republican efforts to improve the electoral process.

Following the veto, Republicans are considering their next steps regarding similar legislation, including House Concurrent Resolution 2013, which could potentially go to voters in 2026 if both chambers approve it. Petersen emphasized the need for reform, stating that Arizona cannot afford to be perceived as a national embarrassment due to slow election reporting.

Republican Governors Association spokesman Kollin Crompton also voiced criticism, pointing out Hobbs’ failure to support straightforward measures aimed at improving Arizona’s voting efficiency. He claimed that the state has long faced criticism for delayed result reporting, which can lead to chaos and uncertainty.

Last November, Arizona was notably the last state to have its presidential election results called by the Associated Press, often taking about 13 days to report full results. As Arizona increasingly becomes a battleground state with tighter election margins, such policies have gained traction among Republican lawmakers.