Tue. Mar 19th, 2024

From today’s Arizona Republic:

Secretary of State and Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs officially certified the Nov. 8 election results in a ceremony at the Capitol on Monday morning, a routine step in the election process and one that clears the way for lawsuits and recounts in three races to begin.

Seated alongside Gov. Doug Ducey, Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, whose signatures also were required on the certification documents, Hobbs thanked the about 2.6 million voters who cast ballots this year.

“I just want to once again thank the voters of Arizona, because of your participation our democratic institutions thrived,” Hobbs said. “Stay engaged and keep voting.”

The certification ceremony, technically called a canvass in Arizona law, was fairly bland when taken in the context of recent years.

In 2020, Ducey silenced a phone call from President Donald Trump during the certification, leading to a viral moment in the opening stages of Trump’s efforts to overturn the election result.

“This is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” Ducey said Monday before signing the canvass. “It’s one that recognizes the votes cast by the citizens of our great state. Voting is a fundamental principle of our nation’s democracy. It’s an important right and an effective method in ensuring Americans’ voices are heard.”

Read the complete story here.

By Editor