RNC and Arizona Republicans File Lawsuit Challenging State Election Manual
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Republican National Committee and Arizona Republicans filed a new lawsuit challenging Arizona’s 2023 Election Procedures Manual (EPM), as Republicans continue their attack on election procedures in the state.
Approved in December 2023, the EPM lays out the rules for the state’s elections from voter registration rules to the certification of election results and everything in between. Today’s lawsuit brought by the RNC, Arizona Republican Party and Yavapai County GOP challenges the EPM in its entirety.
The lawsuit brought today argues that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) did not follow the proper procedure to enact the new manual and requests that the court block its enforcement. The complaint goes so far as to ask the court to block “enforcement of the 2023 EPM (including by criminal prosecution) until and unless the Secretary complies with the rulemaking process.”
The lawsuit also lists alternate claims that it asks the court to address if it does not accept its first claim. These alternative claims pertain to the EPM’s rules for:
- Documentary proof of citizenship verification,
- Public access to voters’ signatures,
- Arizona’s Active Early Voting List,
- Challenges to early ballots and
- Out-of-precinct voting.
Republicans argue that the EPM’s rules for each of the categories listed above violate Arizona law and request that the court block those rules in the event that the court declines to void the entire manual.
There is no doubt that Arizona will be a critical state for the 2024 presidential election and Republicans are already targeting election administration in the state with a barrage of lawsuits. This marks the second lawsuit challenging the 2023 EPM.
Just last week, Republican legislative leaders in the state filed a different lawsuit targeting the new EPM’s provisions that pertain to Arizona’s Active Early Voting List, voter registration cancellation, petition circulator requirements (for a person who gathers signatures for candidate petitions or ballot initiatives) certifying elections and interpretations of ongoing legal proceedings.
Less than 72 hours ago, Stephen Miller’s right-wing legal group filed a lawsuit challenging election procedures in Maricopa County specifically. Democracy Docket is currently tracking six lawsuits filed by anti-voting forces that target election administration in Arizona.