Republicans Hail Transparent Primary as Blueprint for “Freer and Fairer” Elections

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona Republicans are claiming success for achieving a “freer and fairer election” in the latest Arizona primaries.

State Representative Alexander Kolodin announced earlier this week that Arizonans experienced rapid results for the 2024 primary election cycle, thanks to a historic election reform bill passed by the Arizona State Legislature.

Arizona Celebrates Freer & Fairer Election Thanks to State Legislature’s Efforts

Arizonans enjoyed quick results for the 2024 primary election due to the landmark election reform bill passed by the legislature. For the first time, HB 2785 was enacted… pic.twitter.com/Tbw6wK1pAX

— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) July 31, 2024

Kolodin stated, “The House Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections is thrilled to see our significant election reform bill yielding an improved experience for Arizona voters. I am extremely grateful to my colleagues, especially Speaker Toma, Senator Rogers, Representative Heap, and Representative Terech, for their exceptional partnership in bringing about this historic reform.”

The bill in question, HB 2785, was passed by the Arizona State Legislature and signed by Governor Katie Hobbs earlier this year. According to Kolodin, the legislation mandated that election officials continue tabulation through the night without delay until complete. It also allowed for the early tabulation of received ballots, with strict protections to ensure vote totals were not prematurely accessed.

Kolodin added, “Now, just a day after the election, results are known for most major races, reducing unnecessary delay and minimizing the time frame for potential errors.”

Kolodin, a first-term state legislator seeking re-election, also expressed gratitude to election workers, who, for the first time, worked through the night to count election day drop-offs and tabulate ballots. He noted, “Voters can see that the legislative improvements have led to faster results, a smoother process, and a more secure system.”

Upon signing HB 2785 in February, State Senator Wendy Rogers, the Elections Committee Chair, said, “This legislation is a major victory for Arizona voters and crucial for restoring voter confidence in election integrity. After extensive discussions among lawmakers, election experts, administrators, and county officials, we crafted a commonsense solution that all 15 Arizona counties support. This ensures our service members’ votes are counted on election day, and helps determine winners faster.”

According to the Arizona House of Representatives, HB 2785 is an emergency measure modifying various electoral procedures and deadlines. The key provisions of the bill include:

Ensuring robust, legally binding signature verification standards.

Placing political parties on an equal footing for curing ballots.

Promoting greater use of ID for early voting.

Providing for overseas military voting, and ensuring timely delivery of Arizona’s electors.

As part of this bipartisan agreement, Arizona’s primary election date was moved to July 30.

Governor Hobbs remarked, “With this bill, we ensure every eligible Arizonan can have their voice heard. We protected voters’ rights, kept partisan priorities out, and proved that democracy in Arizona is strong. I appreciate both Republican and Democratic legislators for putting politics aside to deliver this victory for Arizonans.”

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes also supported the legislation, stating, “I am pleased to see Arizona’s bipartisan effort in passing HB 2785. The bill keeps timely ballot delivery for military and overseas voters while securing the state’s electoral votes for the 2024 presidential election. This legislation received significant bipartisan support, demonstrating Arizona’s commitment to fair and secure elections.”

The bill passed overwhelmingly with a 56-2 vote in the House and a 24-2 vote in the Senate.

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