Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason ruled Friday that the Arizona Senate can obtain access to 2.1 million ballots and election equipment from Arizona’s most populous county, giving the green light to audit results of the November 2020 election.
Judge Thomason’s decision comes after a prolonged conflict between the Republican-controlled state Senate and the GOP-dominated Maricopa County board over subpoenas issued by the Senate.
As reported by KTAR News:
The five-member Board of Supervisors argued that the ballots were secret, that the Legislature had no right to access them and that the subpoenas issued by Senate President Karen Fann were for an illegitimate purpose, among other arguments. The Senate’s lawyers contended that the constitution gives the Legislature the role of maintaining the purity of elections and make sure voter integrity is protected, that the subpoenas were legal and a proper use of legislative power.
In his ruling, Thomason agreed with the Senate on all those arguments, saying the subpoenas “are legal and enforceable,” adding, “There is no question that the Senators have the power to issue legislative subpoenas. The Subpoenas comply with the statutory requirements for legislative subpoenas. The Senate also has broad constitutional power to oversee elections.
“The Arizona legislature clearly has the power to investigate and examine election reform matters,” the ruling says. “The Subpoenas also do not violate separation of powers principles. Production of the subpoenaed materials would not violate confidentiality laws.” Continued Below
Senate state Republicans released a statement Friday:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Statement from Senate Republicans on judge's ruling allowing access to election equipment, ballots#AZSenate #Elections @FannKfann @votewarren pic.twitter.com/Um1NBNxEke
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) February 26, 2021
AZ Senate President Karen Fann said in a statement, “We are thrilled and grateful that the judge was able to see the big picture in this whole issue. That this has never been about overturning an election. This has always been 100% about voter integrity and finding the answers to all of our voters’ questions about the safety and security and validity of the Arizona electoral system.”
Jovan Hutton Pulitzer, expert and patent owner in barcode and QR code technologies tweeted:
#ScanTheBallots Let's make sure #Arizona we do this right since the whole world is watching and each state in the USA is counting on it. Cut no corners! Follow my process, do it right the 1st time! #LetsMakeHistory #JovanHuttonPulitzer pic.twitter.com/573rpnsekD
— JovanHuttonPulitzer™ #JovanHuttonPulitzer (@JovanHPulitzer) February 26, 2021
