Proposed Election Laws to Tighten Controls on the Election Process

Gavel
Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

Phoenix resident Colleen Connor has been an attorney with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for over eight years. As an attorney in this office, Colleen Connor is responsible for protecting the integrity of election laws in the state.

More recently, election law integrity and voter access have been two of the hot topics taking center stage. The proposed bills are focused on trying to secure the election process without preventing Arizonians from voting. On the agenda, one of the bills that were proposed would eliminate voters from a list of mail-in ballots if they did not vote in two consecutive elections. Another proposed bill would penalize canvassers for submitting registration forms beyond the deadline. While these measures did not pass, the intent is to place tighter controls on the election process.

However, a few measures did pass that would provide added protection and reduce fraud. The first measure would place limits on early voting facilities that allowed voting outside of polling stations before Election Day. The other measure that passed related to ID requirements for new voters. Ultimately, the emphasis was on cleaning up and securing the voting process in Arizona.

An Overview of Public Record Law in Arizona

Colleen Connor, practice group leader in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Arizona, provides representation and legal advice to elected officials and government departments around Phoenix. As an attorney for the county, Colleen Connor has extensive experience handling cases involving everything from statutory duties to public record laws in the state.

In Arizona, anyone is allowed to inspect and copy public records. While there is no specific statute defining what a “public record” is, Arizona Public Record Law does require that all public bodies and officers maintain records of anything that is reasonably necessary for documenting the official and government-funded activities of that position. This may include books, maps, photographs, or other documentary materials. These records are required under section 39-121.01(B) of Arizona law and are generally regarded as public records.

Based on this, public records in Arizona are kept by different government entities at varying levels. This includes school districts, county agencies, state agencies, and committees supported by state spending. Elected and appointed individuals are also subject to Arizona public records law. However, there are some exceptions to these laws.

If obtaining any record violates the privacy of an individual, it is usually not regarded as public. This includes the home address or phone number of a peace officer, justice, public defender, or other eligible person. Specific departments, such as the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Juvenile Corrections, are also exempt from providing members of the public with a reason for withholding certain records.