The Democratic National Committee and the Arizona Democratic Party are attempting to intervene in a lawsuit by the Republican National Committee over Arizona‘s election procedure manual.
The manual, created by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, is designed to tell officials in the state how to conduct and certify elections. It was challenged by the RNC and the Arizona Republican Party earlier this month, alleging the manual would “undermine election integrity.” The procedures Republicans have taken issue with in the manual include procedures ensuring noncitizens cannot vote and rules against voter intimidation — with provisions restricting photographing people dropping off ballots.
The DNC and the Arizona Democratic Party said on Tuesday they are seeking to be added as defendants alongside Fontes in the lawsuit challenging the manual, accusing Republicans of trying to interfere in the battleground state’s elections.
“These lawsuits are a blatant attempt to interfere with Arizona’s elections and we will not let Republicans get away with their dangerous agenda to undermine our democracy,” DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
“Democrats are fighting back with every tool at our disposal to ensure that every eligible voter across Arizona has an opportunity to make their voice heard at the ballot box, and participate in free and fair elections,” the statement continued.
Republicans filed the initial lawsuit over concerns with several provisions in the manual, arguing that Fontes limited public input while crafting the manual last year.
“Adrian Fontes’ Election Procedure Manual (EPM) is designed to undermine election integrity in Arizona, and Republicans are suing him to protect Arizona elections,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement when filing the lawsuit. “The new EPM weakens safeguards against non-citizen voting during a time of unprecedented illegal immigration on Arizona’s southern border, unlawfully limits the ability to challenge early ballots, and violates numerous provisions of Arizona law meant to protect election integrity.”
“The RNC and AZGOP have a long history of collaborating in the courtroom to protect Arizona elections from left-wing attacks — we are proud to hold Arizona Democrats accountable and look forward to seeing them in court,” she continued.
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The election procedure manual was approved by Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) and state Attorney General Kris Mayes in December 2023, with Fontes touting the manual as being clearer and more concise than previous iterations.
Arizona is expected to be one of the most hotly contested states in the presidential election in November, after being one of the key states in President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020. The Senate race in the state in November could determine control of the upper chamber.
