State of Arizona

Arizona Voting Machines Challenge

Lake v. Hobbs

Lawsuit filed on behalf of a Republican candidate for governor, Kari Lake, and state Rep. Mark Finchem (R), a candidate for Arizona secretary of state, challenging Arizona’s use of electronic voting machines. The plaintiffs allege that Arizona’s use of electronic voting machines violates their fundamental right to vote guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Arizona law because “the vote tallies reported by electronic voting machines cannot, without objective evaluation, be trusted to accurately show which candidates actually received the most votes.” The complaint suggests that, because electronic machines are often connected to the internet and use software that is not publicly disclosed, the machines are “inherently vulnerable” to cyberattacks and voting fraud. The plaintiffs focus much of their complaint on Dominion voting machines, a big focal point of Big Lie supporters following the 2020 election. The lawsuit asks the court to ban the use of electronic voting machines in Arizona and require that voters fill out paper ballots that are hand counted in future elections.

A hearing on the defendants’ motion to dismiss and the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction was held on July 21. Following the hearing, the judge dismissed the case and denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.

On Sept. 14, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Oct. 16, the 9th Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Lake’s lawsuit.

On March 14, 2024, Lake appealed the 9th Circuit’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

RESULT: On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Lake’s appeal, ending the case. Lake and Finchem asked the 9th Circuit to withhold the final judgment in their case but the 9th Circuit declined to do so. Arizona continues to use electronic voting machines.

Case Documents (district court)

Case Documents (9th circuit)

Case Documents (U.s. Supreme Court)

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