Arizona Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda is asking the state Supreme Court to void two executive orders issued by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs aimed at expanding access to voter registration and ballot drop-off locations.
In a lawsuit filed last Thursday, Swoboda claims Hobbs overstepped her authority by directing state agencies to distribute voter registration forms and serve as ballot drop-off points, including the Department of Corrections and Juvenile Corrections.
Swoboda argues that these actions violate state law, which gives the Republican-controlled Legislature the power to determine voting locations and procedures. “We will not stand by as our constitutional rights are trampled,” Swoboda said, calling Hobbs' orders a “blatant overreach.”
Andrew Gould, the lead attorney for the suit, contends the orders fail to address key security concerns, particularly how completed ballots will be stored and tracked before reaching election officials. He also took the unusual step of bypassing lower courts and filing directly with the Arizona Supreme Court, seeking an expedited ruling before the 2024 election.
The orders in question, issued in November, include Executive Order 23, which allows state buildings to serve as ballot drop-off sites, and Executive Order 25, requiring state agencies to provide voter registration links and forms. Gould argues that the orders lack a clear expiration date and overstep Hobbs' constitutional powers, comparing them unfavorably to a 2020 emergency order issued by former Gov. Doug Ducey during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was temporary.
Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, previously declined a request from the GOP to challenge Hobbs' actions, stating that increased access to voter registration does not harm anyone. Hobbs' legal counsel has similarly defended the orders as lawful measures to improve voter access amid challenges in securing polling sites in some counties.
