PHOENIX ( Associated Press) – An Arizona judge on Thursday ordered Cochise County officials to certify midterm election results by the end of the day, saying Republican observers broke the law when they filed before a deadline set for this week. Refused to sign the vote count.
The two Republicans on the three-member county board of supervisors have not cited any problems with the election results. Instead, they noted that they are not convinced that the machines used to tabulate votes were properly certified for use in elections, although state and federal election officials have said they were.
Secretary of State Katie Hobbs filed a lawsuit Monday, as a local voter and a group of retirees argued that observers are required by law to certify elections. Hobbs says she is required to complete state certification by December 5th and by law she can only delay it until December 8th.
Andy Gaona, an attorney representing Hobbs, said in court Thursday that scheduling issues could make it impossible for the secretary of state, governor, attorney general and chief justice to meet for statewide certification, as required by law, if Monday. Delayed more than
Hobbs, a Democrat who was elected to the governor’s office in the November election, has warned that he will have to certify the results without the Cochise County data if they are not received in time, an outcome that many Racing can tip the scales. close. The county’s 47,000 votes went overwhelmingly to the Republicans.
