Arizona Capitol Dome
By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
The victory of Joe Biden over Donald Trump in Arizona has left many Republican lawmakers grumbling about the results and insisting, as did the now-former president, that the only way that could have happened is if the election were stolen.
But several are doing more, seeking changes in state election laws they contend will bring more transparency to the process and curb the opportunity for errors or outright fraud.
And there also is a proposal to give lawmakers more opportunity for oversight — and to potentially second-guess the reported results.
Several of the measures are aimed at the early ballot process, one criticized by Trump as an invitation to cheat.
For example, SB 1503 sponsored by Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, would continue to allow people to request an early ballot by mail. But the voter would have to return it to a polling place in person, ending the convenience of being able to drop it in the mail.
