Local Arizona counties will certify interim results after a judge-ordered vote. 2022 US Midterm Elections
country Arizona The county finally certified the election results on Thursday after a judge ordered the county board of oversight to work just hours earlier.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 2-0 to approve the interim results, allowing the canvas to continue for the statewide election scheduled for Dec. 5. His third member of the board, Tom Crosby, who spearheaded efforts to delay certification, did not attend the vote.
Supervisor Peggy Judd initially voted to defer certification, but later voted in favor after a court order.
“I’m not ashamed of what I did,” Judd said during Thursday’s certification vote. “And today…because of the court’s ruling, and because of my own health and the circumstances that are taking place in our lives, I am not following what the judge has done or asked of us today. I feel like I have to, but I feel like I don’t. I like being threatened.”
after the county refused authentication It faced a lawsuit from the Arizona Secretary of State and the Arizona Retirees Alliance before the Nov. 28 deadline set by state law. The lawsuit was heard in court on Thursday, and Pima County Superior Court Judge Casey McGinley quickly ruled that the board should review the results by that afternoon. He said there was no legal basis for refusal.
County attorneys did not represent the two supervisors who voted against certification of the election, nor did they represent the outside attorneys with whom the Commission originally sought assistance. Instead, the attorney was only named early Thursday, did not attend the court hearing, and the accused supervisor had no legal representation. McGinley said he would move forward soon.
Delays in the statewide accreditation process had significant potential repercussions. The two statewide recounts, required by law, could not begin until the canvases were completed. Lawsuits from candidates and other groups cannot start without official results. Voters in the county could be disenfranchised if their votes are not included in statewide totals. warned.
Ann English, chairman of the board and the only Democrat, voted in favor and against approval of the election. Efforts so far It was used by a colleague of hers to conduct a complete handcount of ballots, which was later declared illegal. During Thursday’s accreditation, she said that those pushing not to accredit “the law has room for change and it’s not here – we’re reacting to the law and creating legislation for the states.” I hope that you will realize that I have not.
While the lawsuit succeeded in getting the county to carry out its electoral duties, others hope the two overseers will face criminal charges for ignoring electoral law. State Law A person with an election-related duty who violates the law and refuses to perform that duty is guilty of a class 6 felony.
Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley wrote a letter It called on current Attorney General Mark Brunovich and Coaches County Attorney Brian McIntyre to investigate and consider the criminal charges against Crosby and Judd.McIntyre Said He is considering whether to file charges.
Goddard and Romley said, “Failure to hold Crosby and Judd accountable for their violations of law may encourage other public officials to waive their legal obligations in future elections.” would pose a grave threat to the electoral administration of
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/01/arizona-certifies-midterm-results-cochise Local Arizona counties will certify interim results after a judge-ordered vote. 2022 US Midterm Elections