Arizona GOP Speaker Stonewalls Bill Allowing State to Reject Election Results

A poll worker sorts ballots in a file photo taken in Arizona. Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images

Republican Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers used a parliamentary move to block a bill that would have allowed state lawmakers to reject election results.

Bowers blocked the measure, which was Republican introduced by state Rep. John Fillmore, from being able to move ahead by assigning the bill to each of the 12 state House committees.

Speaking to local outlet Capitol Media Services Wednesday, Bowers said that he is not killing House Bill 2596. But Bowers noted that by assigning it to every committee, there is no way that it can secure approval by each one before advancing to the floor of the state House.

The bill would, according to its language, allow the state legislature to “call itself into session to review the ballot tabulating process for the regular primary and general elections and on review shall accept or reject the election results.”

And, it adds, “If the legislature accepts the election results, the election canvass, and related certifications and proclamations, it ”may proceed as otherwise provided by law, and the legislature may adjourn its session.”

“If the legislature rejects the election results, any qualified elector may file an action in the superior court to request that a new election be held,” the measure said.

Bowers, however, said that he believes the portion of the bill where it says that the legislature can “[accept] the election results” is unacceptable.

“We gave the authority to the people,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. “For somebody to say we have plenary authority to overthrow a vote of the people for something we think may have happened, where is it (the evidence)?’’ Bowers asked before criticizing last year’s state Senate audit of the 2020 election results.

“The point is, when we gave a fundamental right to the people, I don’t care if I win or lose, that right was theirs,’’ Bowers continued, adding that he’s “not going to go back and kick them in the teeth.’’

Fillmore, however, disagreed but noted that he doesn’t have the votes to oust Bowers.

“He does things like he’s God,’’ Fillmore told the outlet about Bowers’ decision this week. “Sometimes there are a great many of the legislators [who] don’t have the intestinal fortitude to do what is right,’’ Fillmore remarked.

Previously, Fillmore told CNN that with his measure, he is attempting to “ensure the integrity of the voting process“ in Arizona. Lawmakers, he continued, should have the authority as “representatives of the people” to review the vote count.

“If there’s a problem, we’re not overturning anything. We’re just trying to put the skids on it and say, ‘This has to be adjudicated,’ ” he said.

The Epoch Times has contacted Bowers’ office for comment.