In a development that's sure to fan the flames of partisan contention in Arizona, House Speaker Steve Montenegro has leveled serious allegations against Secretary of State Adrian Fontes over the proposed 2025 Elections Procedures Manual (EPM). Montenegro claims that the manual, which outlines the rules for conducting elections, contains provisions that not only circumvent state laws but also, have been previously knocked down by the courts.
In a statement obtained by Arizona State Legislature, Montenegro asserts, "Arizonans expect elections to be run according to the law, not rewritten to fit the Secretary of State’s partisan agenda." He outlines specific sections of the draft manual that he believes are illegal, including ones that allow non-citizens to "cure" defective registrations and those that weaken the statutory right of political parties to select poll workers.
Further details shared by Montenegro mention how the draft looks to excuse incomplete petition circulator registrations that, the courts have already deemed unlawful. This, and other steps taken by Fontes, could compromise the integrity of ballot chain custody, restrict party observers from ballot handling, and introduce delays in responding to equipment failures on Election Day.
"If Fontes refuses to correct these unlawful provisions, the courts will,” Montenegro warned, signaling a potential legal showdown, as per Arizona State Legislature. The contentious sections include allowances for voter registrations without required identification numbers or affirmations, and the barring of challenges to early ballots based on a lack of proof of citizenship, practices which directly collide with Arizona's legislative authority and could, impact the trust placed in electoral processes.
It's worth noting that the EPM will require approval from both the Governor and the Attorney General before any such policies take effect.
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