
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — The Arizona 2020 general election results were certified Monday morning by Governor Doug Ducey and Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.
Hobbs certified results at the official canvass for federal, state, legislative offices, and statewide ballot measures with Chief Justice Robert Brutinel also in attendance and signing. Just ten days prior, Maricopa County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to confirm that all ballots cast in the county were accounted for, and every valid vote will be in the final election results.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Governor Doug Ducey also signed off on the canvass, which will lead to the selection of the state’s electoral college voters. Because of Arizona’s Electoral College laws, all of the state’s 11 electoral votes will go to President-elect Joe Biden.
The Electoral College is sometimes referred to as a “winner take all” system because the winner of the state’s popular vote typically get all of the state’s electoral votes. Electors are usually pledged to vote according to their statewide popular vote, but if they vote against, they’re called a “faithless elector.”
Some states, including Arizona, have passed laws banning faithless electors. If an electoral voter votes faithlessly, they can either be replaced or even fined. Earlier this year in July, the U.S Supreme Court ruled 9-0 upholding the authority of states to bind presidential electors to their state’s popular vote when casting their ballots.
The Supreme Court made their ruling after several legal challenges from Colorado and Washington resulted in the removal or sanctioning of faithless electors during the 2016 presidential election. In their ruling, the court said the electors “defied the will of their state’s voters by voting for another candidate.”
Arizona’s law, ARS 16-2-212, states in part the following:
“A presidential elector who knowingly refuses to cast that elector’s electoral college vote as prescribed…is no longer eligible to hold the office of presidential elector and that office is deemed and declared vacant by operation of law.”
I’ve been pretty outspoken about Arizona’s election system, and bragged about it quite a bit, including in the Oval Office. And for good reason. 1/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
We’ve been doing early voting since 1992. Arizona didn’t explore or experiment this year. We didn’t cancel election day voting as some pushed for — we weren’t going to disenfranchise any voter. 2/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
In Arizona, we have some of the strongest election laws in the country, laws that prioritize accountability and clearly lay out procedures for conducting, canvassing, and even contesting the results of an election. 3/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
We’ve got ID at the polls. We review EVERY signature (every single one) on early ballots — by hand — unlike other states that use computers. Prohibitions on ballot harvesting. Bipartisan poll observers. Clear deadlines, including no ballots allowed after Election Day. 4/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
The problems that exist in other states simply don’t apply here. I’ve also said all along, I’m going to follow the law. So here’s what the law says… 5/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
It requires the Secretary of State, in the presence of the Governor and the Attorney General, to canvass the election on the fourth Monday following the general election. That was today. 6/ pic.twitter.com/Bo3UnnRYe6
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
This can ONLY be delayed if counties DECLINE to certify their results. ALL 15 counties in Arizona — counties run by both parties — certified their results. 7/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
The canvass of the election triggers a 5-day window for any elector to bring a credible challenge to the election results in court. If you want to contest the results, now is the time. Bring your challenges. 8/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
That’s the law. I’ve sworn an oath to uphold it, and I take my responsibility seriously. 9/9
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 1, 2020
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