No, Arizona isn’t banning electronic voting machines for the 2024 presidential election
Share this @internewscast.com

“This is just a resolution which carries no weight in law. It will needlessly confuse a lot of people who will erroneously believe that it is fact,” a lawmaker said.

VERIFY has been debunking misinformation surrounding the 2020 presidential election for several years. Many of the stories we’ve fact-checked have been related to the state of Arizona.

Most recently, multiple social media posts have claimed that Arizona is banning the use of electronic voting machines in the state ahead of the 2024 presidential election. But is that true?

THE QUESTION

Is Arizona banning electronic voting machines ahead of the 2024 presidential election?

THE SOURCES

THE ANSWER

This is false.

No, Arizona is not banning electronic voting machines ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

WHAT WE FOUND

The state of Arizona is not banning electronic voting machines ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

In March, the Arizona State Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution (S.C.R.) 1037, which seeks to prohibit counties in the state from using electronic voting machines manufactured outside of the U.S. during federal elections, according to the resolution’s text.

A concurrent resolution is a type of resolution processed through both houses of the Arizona State Legislature but they are not signed into law by the governor. Concurrent resolutions, like S.C.R. 1037, are generally used to make or amend rules that apply to both houses or used to express the sentiments of both houses, but they are non-binding and do not have the force of law, meaning election officials in the state are not obligated to follow them.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed similar, binding legislation in April. Senate Bill 1074 prohibited the use of electronic voting equipment manufactured outside of the U.S. as the primary method for counting votes during federal elections in the state unless certain technical standards were met. In an April 6 letter, Hobbs wrote that the election equipment “required by the bill, as well as the problem it purports to solve, does not exist.”

On May 22, Arizona Senate majority leader Sonny Borrelli (R-Ariz.), who sponsored the vetoed Senate Bill 1074, sent a letter to county officials in the state, telling them they were prohibited from using electronic voting systems in the state of Arizona in future federal elections “unless those systems meet the requirements set forth in S.C.R. 1037.”

Citing the U.S. Constitution, Borrelli attempted to use the legislative passage of S.C.R. 1037 to override Hobbs’s veto of Senate Bill 1074. Borrelli wrote in his letter that it was now the Arizona State Legislature’s duty to exercise its “plenary” authority or power in regard to S.C.R. 1037. “Plenary power” is defined as “power that is wide-ranging, broadly construed, and often limitless for all practical purposes.”

But Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) addressed Borrelli’s letter in a May 22 statement, saying that S.C.R. 1037 “is non-binding and does not have the force of law.” Current Arizona state law has no rules on the type of electronic voting machines used during federal elections, according to Fontes.

“Election equipment must be certified by the federal and state government by specific requirements outlined in federal and state law. That certification process is being followed in Arizona and all applicable election equipment being used in Arizona is certified,” Fontes said.

“If those requirements or certification process were to be changed, it would require a regular bill to be passed by the legislature and signed by the governor—which is not the case for this non-binding resolution,” Fontes continued.

Other lawmakers in the state have also issued statements criticizing Borrelli’s letter to county officials.

“A single member of the Arizona State Senate cannot make laws or direct other divisions of government to take actions counter to state law,” Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman told the Arizona Mirror. 

“This is just a resolution which carries no weight in law. By sending out (a letter) on official state letterhead, it will needlessly confuse a lot of people who will erroneously believe that it is a fact,” Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson said.

VERIFY reached out to Borrelli’s office but did not hear back by the time of publication.

The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter, text alerts and our YouTube channel. You can also follow us on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Learn More »

Follow Us

Want something VERIFIED?


Text: 202-410-8808

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Exclusive: ‘DHS Out to Lunch,’ Plans Massive Migrant Releases at Texas Border, Says CBP Source

EAGLE PASS, Texas — According to a source within U.S. Customs and…

Co-op bosses say shoplifting is causing 'anarchy' in the aisles with staff having syringes and knives pulled on them

Co-op bosses have said shoplifting is causing anarchy at its stores and…

Will Smith Set To Host Hip-Hop Podcast ‘Class Of ’88’ For Audible

OK, here’s the situation: Will Smith is set to host a new…

Colleagues support Willowick police officer who had stroke before her wedding: ‘We miss her’

Officer Madison Orton is just 27 years old. She’s been on the…

Stocks drop in an ugly day as allure grows to buy a Treasury bill and chill

Wall Street fell sharply Thursday in an ugly day for stocks worldwide…

Amazon To Start Running Ads In Prime Video Series & Movies, Will Launch Ad-Free Tier For Extra Fee

Ads are coming to Prime Video’s entertainment content. Commercials in movies and…

Jesse Lingard, 30, apologises for 'putting lives at risk' as ex-Manchester United and England star is fined £57,000 for drink-driving at twice over legal limit in his £200k Lamborghini

Jesse Lingard has apologised for ‘putting the lives of others at risk’…

St. Augustine boater reunites with rescue crews who saved his life

A St. Augustine boater joyfully reunited with rescue crews who pulled him…

Akron woman brutally murdered mom with iron skillet and a knife; Lorain 2-year-old boy killed by fentanyl in dad’s house, and more on 3News Daily

On 3News Daily, Stephanie Haney shares the details from today’s most-read stories…

Ed Sheeran Delivers Courtney Cox A Kitchen Surprise With ‘Friends’ Tribute Song

Continuing his oddball promotional tour for his new album, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran…

Two Dead, 42 Hurt in New York Bus Crash Carrying Students

A charter bus in New York carrying students from Long Island to…

F35 pilot who ejected over South Carolina is heard pleading for an ambulance in bizarre 911 call from resident's house and admitting 'I'm not sure where my plane is'

The 911 call that was made after an F35 pilot ejected over…