Midterm Elections

Arizona GOP Groups Challenge State's Mail-In Ballot Counting Procedure

Republican leaders have filed a lawsuit against county officials' practice of verifying mail-in ballot signatures after Election Day.

Arizona GOP Groups Challenge State's Mail-In Ballot Counting Procedure
Getty Images

Arizona GOP leaders are challenging which mail-in ballots can be counted in the state's ongoing U.S. Senate race. 

Four Republican groups have filed a lawsuit against the way counties verify signatures on mail-in ballots. 

The suit, filed against all Arizona county recorders and the secretary of state, comes amid a close race to fill GOP Sen. Jeff Flake's seat. Flake announced in October 2017 he was not running for re-election.

It claims that county recorders are allowing signature fixes on ballots by calling some voters for verification when a signature doesn't match up.

The groups are asking a judge to prevent county officials from counting those ballots, citing a state law that doesn't allow the practice after Election Day. 

Democratic leaders in the state say it's a last-ditch attempt at suppressing votes. That's because Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is almost neck-and-neck with Republican Rep. Martha McSally.

It could take days for the outstanding votes to be counted. 

A hearing on the issue is scheduled for Friday.