Republicans Sue Over Maricopa County Election Worker Requirements in Arizona

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Republican Party of Arizona filed a lawsuit against the Maricopa County Recorder and other Maricopa County officials regarding election workers. The complaint alleges that Republicans do not have equal opportunity to be election workers and laments the limitations put on election workers, stating that the requirements “deter nearly all citizens who would be willing to participate in the administration of elections.” The Republican groups argue that Maricopa County has violated the requirements of the Arizona Equal Access Statutes by imposing strict regulations on election workers. The GOP groups also claim that these regulations are making it harder for Republicans to participate in election administration. 

The Republican plaintiffs assert that “11 Maricopa County voting centers during
the 2022 primary election did not have any Republican poll workers” and that the county defendants “failed to contact federal, state, or county Republican Party officials to discuss and remedy any last-minute shortfall in Republican workers in the 2022 primary election.” Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that Maricopa County has violated the equal representation requirements of the state’s Elections Procedures Manual of 2019 by imposing “onerous requirements” including a “minimum hours requirement that deter[s] nearly all citizens who would be willing to participate in the administration of elections” and “minimum durational requirements that deter nearIy all citizens who would be willing to participate in the administration of elections.” They also allege that the defendants maintain “inhospitable working conditions” and fail “to organize a ‘bullpen’ of board appointees to backfill reasonably foreseeable vacancies.” The plaintiffs request an injunction or a writ of mandamus (a court order compelling a party to take a certain action) that would ease these restrictions. 

This lawsuit comes as the RNC and the Arizona GOP filed a different lawsuit a day prior requesting information related to the “staffing and composition of polling place Election Boards, Special Election Boards, and Central Counting Boards.” This is part of a larger theme of Republicans continuing to weaponize and politicize election administration in Arizona and states across the country.  

Read the complaint here.

Learn more about the case here.