(DailyAnswer.org) – Although Democratic Governor of Arizona Katie Hobbs already served two years in office, she’s not in the clear yet regarding her path to governorship as the state GOP continues to question election integrity in Arizona, and now they are suing Hobbs for “unlawfully” using executive orders to alter election laws.
Gina Swoboda, chair of the Republican Party of Arizona, filed a lawsuit against Hobbs on Thursday, Aug. 22, the same day Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Swoboda called out Hobbs for not having the authority to make the drastic changes she’s made to the voting system in Arizona.
The lawsuit revolves around two executive orders: Executive Order 2023-23, which authorizes using state facilities as voting locations, and Executive Order 2023-25, which changes the rules for facilitating voter registration. Swoboda called the orders a “blatant overreach” of Hobbs’ authority.
The Arizona governor issued the executive orders in November 2023. One designated the buildings for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, Reentry, the Department of Juvenile Corrects building, and other state agency buildings as drop-off locations for ballots. The other order gave those agencies “Voter Registration Assistance” status, allowing them to hand out registration forms and help applicants fill them out.
Hobbs is accused of exceeding her authority as governor by issuing the executive orders, which the lawsuit argues are “unconstitutional and void” and seeks to enjoin her from enforcing, arguing the orders “violate the separation of powers.” The lawsuit also seeks to “usurp the powers lawfully granted” to the Arizona Secretary of State to change the designation of the aforementioned agencies into Voter Registration Agencies and drop-off locations for ballots.
The complaint says the executives “are contrary to law” because Hobbs “usurped” state Legislature authority by altering election laws unilaterally. It also noted problems with the executive orders, such as failing to address where complete ballots are stored until sent to “appropriate election officials” or keeping a log of “chain-of-custody” for finished ballots. The plaintiffs seek a declaration by the Arizona Supreme Court that the orders are unconstitutional and to prohibit the governor from enforcing them.
Copyright 2024, DailyAnswer.org
