Our Republic depends on the integrity of every ballot and the trust the American people place in the electoral system. That trust is on the line, and I am here to continue sounding the alarm.
After reviewing credible, disturbing reports regarding Runbeck Election Services and Maricopa County’s handling of ballots during the 2024 General Election, I have formally called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a federal investigation into whether basic election protocols were violated.
This is not partisan theater. The allegations are signs of possible systemic failures or a complete disregard for the chain of custody that protects every legal vote.
As a former prosecutor and Army Reserve intelligence officer, I do not jump to conclusions. I review the facts at hand, and I believe in due process and evidence.
But I also believe that when red flags are waving this high and wide, public servants have a duty to act.
During my time representing the people of Arizona, I have seen firsthand how trust in our elections has declined. In 2022, polling showed that more than half of Arizona voters doubted whether the official vote count reflected all legal votes. That level of public distrust is toxic to a functioning democracy, and it cannot be ignored.
Election security is national security.
In both 2020 and 2022, Arizona faced scrutiny from all sides. We endured hand counts, audits, lawsuits, and national attention. The public was told repeatedly that every vote was counted, every procedure followed. However, if the most basic rules surrounding ballot security were violated, then those assurances are meaningless.
The American people deserve to know the truth.
That is why I am asking the Justice Department to determine whether Runbeck provided a secure environment for ballot printing, transportation, and storage.
If all procedures were followed correctly, then all involved should welcome a federal investigation and seek to reaffirm public confidence. If those procedures were ignored or manipulated, then we need immediate corrective action and full accountability. A transparent process benefits everyone, regardless of political party.
Reports have indicated that there was no meaningful safeguards or oversight in place at all times. That is not just bad optics. That is a recipe for disaster. Even the appearance of impropriety damages voter confidence and invites division across the country.
As a representative for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, I take my oath to protect our Constitution seriously. That includes the right of every American to participate in a fair election. When systems break down or appear compromised, it is not enough to hope for the best. We must act to investigate, fix them, and restore faith in the system.
Some critics will try to paint this investigation as just another political stunt. They will try to lump it in with previous election disputes to dismiss it out of hand. But that misses the point entirely. This request is not being driven by partisanship. It is being driven by facts, by public concern, and by a genuine desire to strengthen our democratic institutions.
We are not repeating past fights. We are demanding answers in the present. We are relying on the lawful, nonpartisan authority of the Justice Department to get to the bottom of this. We are asking for transparency, not a political advantage.
So, what does this mean for the people of Arizona? It means you are not being ignored. Your concerns about the integrity of our elections are being taken seriously. Your right to have your voice heard is being defended.
To the American people watching this unfold, know this: we are not looking to undermine democracy. We are looking to restore and strengthen it.
We are not interested in sowing chaos. We are committed to restoring order and confidence. Because when trust in elections breaks down, the entire system begins to fracture.
I will keep pushing for this investigation until the necessary action is taken. I will not back down from the responsibility to represent the people of Arizona with clarity, courage, and conviction. Our elections are too important to be left in doubt. Let’s fix this now before it is too late.
Arizona Republican Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) has issued a request for a full investigation into credible allegations that election security protocols in Arizona were breached during the 2024 General Election, putting the integrity of the election into question.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Congressman Hamadeh requested an investigation to specifically examine the handling of ballots from multiple states throughout the west by Runbeck Election Services.
Blank ballots should never be mixed with live ballots. I’m urging the @DOJ to investigate Runbeck Election Services and Maricopa County’s role in Arizona’s 2024 election.
Hamadeh cited credible reports that large stores of printed blank ballots from several western states were “improperly mixed in a warehouse with returned voted mail ballots that were in the process of being prepared for tabulation.”
He wrote, “This alarming situation raises serious questions about the security and integrity of the election process in Maricopa County and potentially beyond. The comingling of blank ballots with live ballots poses a significant risk to the accuracy and fairness of election results. It is crucial that we have confidence in the integrity of our elections, and any potential mishandling of ballots must be investigated to ensure that the will of the voters is accurately reflected.”
Hamadeh has requested that DOJ investigators determine:
1) The circumstance surrounding the mixing of blank ballots with voted ballots in the Runbeck warehouse.
2) The security measures in place to prevent such incidents and whether they were followed.
3) The potential impact on the accuracy of election results in Maricopa County and any other affected areas.
4) Any other relevant factors that may have comprised the integrity of the 2024 election. The Congressman also pointed to an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau has “turned over documents to Sen. Chuck Grassley involving an intelligence report in which China is alleged to have mass-produced fake U.S. driver’s licenses as part of the CCP’s effort to rig the 2020 election with fake mail-in ballots in favor of President Joe Biden.”
The FBI has located documents which detail alarming allegations related to the 2020 U.S. election, including allegations of interference by the CCP.
I have immediately declassified the material and turned the documents over to the Chairman Grassley for further review. pic.twitter.com/sBVNUgN2BJ
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 17, 2025
“These include allegations of plants from the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] to manufacture fake driver’s licenses and ship them into the United States for the purpose of facilitating fraudulent mail-in ballots–allegations which, while substantiated, were abruptly recalled and never disclosed to the public,” Patel revealed. “In accordance with Chairman Grassley’s request for documents, I have immediately declassified the material and turned the document over to the Chairman for further review.”
In a statement following his request for an investigation, Hamadeh said, “We have known for years that our election processes in Arizona are flawed and ripe with opportunities for nefarious forces. There appears to be a clear pattern and practice of security breakdowns, system failures, and outright manipulation that must be investigated and remedied.”
He concluded, “Now is the time for our Department of Justice to investigate credible allegations and offer sound recommendations to ensure that the integrity of our elections is restored in full.”
The Arizona Republican Party (Arizona GOP) joined President Donald Trump in the legal battle to require proof of citizenship to vote.
Chairwoman Gina Swoboda announced the Arizona GOP’s involvement on Wednesday. The state party filed an amicus brief with the Massachusetts District Court last week.
“The American people expect secure elections, not open invitations to fraud,” said Swoboda. “Arizona has led the nation with proof-of-citizenship laws for two decades, and we stand firmly behind President Trump’s efforts to protect the ballot. This is about safeguarding every legal vote — and stopping those who want to dilute it.”
Arizona has led the nation on voter citizenship laws for 20+ years—and we’re standing strong again. @AZGOP just filed an amicus brief supporting @POTUS order to require proof of citizenship to vote. 🇺🇸
— Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) June 5, 2025
Trump issued Executive Order 14248, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” in March. Trump’s order directed the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to require within its national mail voter registration form documentary proof of citizenship as well as require state or local officials to record that applicants presented documentary proof of citizenship.
Per the president’s executive order, proper documentary proof of citizenship would only include U.S. passports, identification documents compliant with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, official military ID cards indicating an applicant is a U.S. citizen, or a valid federal or state government-issued photo ID indicating the applicant is a U.S. citizen or if the ID is otherwise accompanied by proof of citizenship.
The president also directed the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Government Efficiency to review the voter rolls and records of each state to verify citizenship and immigration status. Trump also directed each federal voter registration executive department or agency head to assess citizenship prior to providing federal voter registration forms to enrollees of public assistance programs.
Trump’s order also put an end to the acceptance of tardy ballots — the president restricted the reception of absentee and mail-in ballots to the Election Day deadline.
States who refuse to comply with the executive order would cease to receive federal funding.
Several left-wing organizations filed suit against the Trump administration in April to stop the order: the Brennan Center, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of D.C., Asian Americans Advancing Justice, LatinoJustice, and Legal Defense Fund. These organizations filed on behalf of League of Women Voters of the United States, the League of Women Voters of Arizona, League of Women Voters Education Fund, Hispanic Federation, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates.
That same month, a federal court issued a ruling temporarily blocking the executive order.
The Arizona GOP amicus brief argued the EAC maintains statutory authority to require documentary proof of citizenship in voter registration, and that the executive order merely enforced existing laws rather than creating new ones.
While the Arizona GOP has issued its support of the president’s election policy, Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes have been fighting against it. Mayes and Fontes joined a 19-state coalition to sue Trump over that executive order.
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In a time when confidence in our democratic institutions teeters on the edge, one principle must remain sacred: the sanctity of our elections. Our Republic is only as strong as the faith our citizens place in the ballot box. That’s why the passage of the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) is not only timely—it is essential.
The SAVE Act draws directly from the foundation laid by President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” That order highlighted what every American knows instinctively: fair and secure elections are the bedrock of our constitutional republic. President Trump made it clear that foreign interference, voter fraud, and systemic vulnerabilities are not just possibilities—they are threats we must meet with resolve and action. (RELATED: Stephen Miller Says Democrats Just Dropped ‘One Of The Dumbest Talking Points’ Yet Against SAVE Act)
H.R. 22 codifies into law many of the critical protections championed in that executive order. From requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections, to enhancing voter roll maintenance and mandating transparent election audits, the SAVE Act is a clear response to the growing concerns of voters across the political spectrum. It closes loopholes and modernizes our electoral systems to meet today’s challenges with strength and clarity.
Last Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act with bipartisan support. That vote sent a clear and resounding message to the American people: election integrity is not a partisan issue—it is a national imperative. Now, the responsibility lies squarely with the United States Senate. The time for debate is over. The Senate must act swiftly, pass the SAVE Act, and send it to President Trump’s desk so he can sign it into law.
But passing legislation is only half the battle.
To truly safeguard the integrity of our elections, the SAVE Act must be implemented rigorously at the state level. This isn’t merely a matter of policy—it’s a matter of national security. Every Secretary of State and every election official across the country must treat the integrity of the ballot as the solemn responsibility it is. More importantly, state attorneys general must rise to the occasion and enforce this law with unwavering commitment.
The role of a state attorney general should go beyond consumer protections and civil enforcement. In this era, a top-priority mission must be the preservation of free and fair elections. Attorneys general must be fearless guardians of our electoral process—investigating fraud, holding bad actors accountable, and defending laws like the SAVE Act in court if necessary. Anything less is an abdication of their duty to the Constitution and to the people they serve.
Inaction is not neutrality—it is complicity. And when it comes to our elections, the cost of complacency is nothing less than the erosion of the public trust and the weakening of the very pillars of our Republic.
The SAVE Act offers a rare and critical opportunity to restore that trust. It deserves bipartisan support, full implementation, and vigilant enforcement. The American people are watching. They are demanding transparency, security, and fairness. We owe it to them—and to every generation that will inherit this great nation—to deliver nothing less.
Trey Trainor is a contributor to The Daily Caller News Foundation and currently serves as Chairman of the Federal Election Commission; he was nominated as a Commissioner by President Donald J. Trump and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2020. He is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Legislative and Campaign Law and has practiced election law for over two decades.
The Trump administration will no longer continue its legal challenge to Arizona’s documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) laws.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a brief on Tuesday motioning to drop the case.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon filed the brief the very day after she was sworn into her position within the Civil Rights Division, alongside the controversial Interim Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Timothy Courchaine.
Senate President Warren Petersen called the development “a major win for election integrity and the rule of law” in a statement Wednesday. Petersen previously submitted a letter to the DOJ requesting they drop the case.
“The @azsenategop and @azhousegop will continue to defend this law against the special interest groups challenging it,” said Petersen.
🚨BREAKING: A MAJOR WIN FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY AND THE RULE OF LAW!!!
The DOJ, under @realdonaldtrump, just filed a brief announcing they are REVERSING the Biden challenge and are no longer seeking to overturn Arizona’s documentary proof of citizenship laws!!
Petersen submitted his request letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi in mid-February.
The case, Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes, is before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Arizona’s DPOC laws required automatic rejection of Arizona state form registration submissions lacking DPOC, prohibited individuals who hadn’t provided DPOC from voting for a president or returning a ballot by mail, and added mandatory fields to the state registration form for a registrant’s birthplace and a checkbox confirmation of the applicant’s U.S. citizenship.
Last August, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Arizona would have to accept state voter registration forms without DPOC.
Tuesday’s motion by the DOJ was the latest in the Trump administration’s efforts to cease legal action against states’ election laws.
Last month, the DOJ dropped multiple election-related lawsuits in Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana initiated under the Biden administration. Those lawsuits opposed voting maps and election integrity initiatives, respectively.
President Donald Trump and his administration have also taken steps to require proof of citizenship in elections, prompting resistance from the state’s top Democratic leaders.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, alongside Attorney General Kris Mayes, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over President Donald Trump’s recent executive order requiring DPOC to register to vote in federal elections as well as requiring all ballots to be received by Election Day.
Last week, Mayes and Fontes held a joint press conference announcing their lawsuit and accusing Trump of “unconstitutional intrusion” on states’ rights and congressional authority regarding elections. The pair want Trump to go through — not around — Congress for any election law changes.
“If President Trump wanted to make laws then he should have run for congress where the U.S. Constitution says that work is done,” said Fontes. “If the President wants to reshape our elections, he must propose realistic bipartisan legislation in Congress instead of forcing states into unfunded mandates through unlawful executive orders.”
“Clearly, Trump only supports state’s rights when it suits him,” said Mayes.
Last month in another case pertaining to DPOC, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled against the Elections Procedure Manual (EPM) produced by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. Fontes’ EPM would have allowed voters who failed to submit or couldn’t achieve verification of their DPOC.
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