Judge Rules Arizona’s Maricopa County Must Turn Over 2.1 Million November Election Ballots to Senate
BY JACK PHILLIPS February 26, 2021 Updated: February 26, 2021
Judge Rules Arizona’s Maricopa County Must Turn Over 2.1 Million November Election Ballots to Senate[/b]
[b]A judge on Friday ruled that Maricopa County must provide some 2.1 million ballots from the Nov. 3 election to the Arizona state Senate and allow access to its election equipment to conduct an audit.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason ruled that subpoenas issued by Arizona’s state Senate are valid and should be enforced, and he disputed arguments from Maricopa County officials saying the subpoenas are unlawful. The county previously stated that multiple audits have been sufficient and said ballots should be sealed.
“The Court finds that the subpoenas are legal and enforceable,” Thomason wrote (pdf) in his ruling. “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.”
