The Arizona Freedom Caucus (AFC) is throwing its support behind a new election-related proposal from Rep. Alexander Kolodin, announcing its endorsement for the Arizona Secure Elections Act, a measure the group says is aimed at restoring trust and stability in the state’s voting system.
The bill outlines a series of election policy changes that AFC members argue are necessary to address ongoing concerns about administration errors, delays, and voter confidence. According to the caucus, repeated issues in recent election cycles have eroded public trust and demand a comprehensive response.
“The integrity of our elections remains a top priority,” the caucus said in its statement, pointing to what it described as persistent failures that have “made it impossible for reasonable people to trust the integrity of the process and therefore outcomes.” The AFC said its legislative agenda will continue to center on tightening election procedures and removing what it views as opportunities for error or abuse.
The Arizona Secure Elections Act would make a series of changes to election laws, including affirming the principle of “one citizen, one vote”; banning campaign or ballot-measure contributions from foreign individuals or corporations; requiring government-issued identification for all voters; ending early voting at 7 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day; prohibiting ballots from being cast or accepted after polls close on Election Day; guaranteeing access to in-person voting at local polling places; and requiring mail-in voters to confirm their mailing address every election year.
If approved by lawmakers, the measure would appear on the next general election ballot for voters to decide, setting up a statewide vote as soon as 2026. AFC Chair Sen. Jake Hoffman praised both the proposal and Kolodin’s involvement, calling the act a pivotal step toward what the caucus views as long-needed structural reforms.
“With our endorsement, we will be working to ensure that Arizonans have the opportunity to vote for this Act on the 2026 ballot,” Hoffman said, crediting Kolodin and other AFC members for advancing what he characterized as essential election security priorities.
The legislation, if passed, would bypass the governor and head directly to voters for final approval. The AFC says it intends to campaign for the measure statewide ahead of the 2026 election. The proposal is likely to draw significant attention as lawmakers continue to debate voting access, election security, and administrative reforms—issues that have dominated Arizona politics across several cycles.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Arizona Freedom Caucus announced that Representative Alexander Kolodin will lead a special hearing on “The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Democratic Governance and How to Preserve Meaningful Elections” on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in House Hearing Room 4 at the Arizona State Capitol.
The hearing, open to the public and livestreamed through the Arizona Legislature’s website, will focus on how the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping democratic institutions and the electoral process. Lawmakers plan to explore both the opportunities AI presents for improving government efficiency and the potential threats it poses to election security, voter confidence, and public trust.
Representative Kolodin, who chairs the House Ad Hoc Committee on Election Integrity and Florida-style Voting Systems, will be joined by four other Arizona House members, including fellow Freedom Caucus member Representative Rachel Keshel.
“The states cannot be complacent when it comes to the rapid development of AI,” Kolodin said in a statement. “The risk of insufficient oversight of AI is literally what dystopian nightmares are made of. Although it is reasonable to be excited about the prospects of AI to improve human life and society, it is equally critical to be vigilant about the ways it can be abused to erode our freedoms, including threatening democratic governance and our elections.”
The Arizona Freedom Caucus said it views the hearing as a proactive step toward crafting policy that anticipates how AI could be weaponized to undermine democratic processes. The group emphasized that while AI offers enormous benefits, its misuse could have far-reaching consequences for liberty, privacy, and electoral integrity.
“There is perhaps no greater concern than how AI will impact our elections,” the caucus said in its release. “We believe the best way to prevent destructive scenarios is to address AI’s prospective impacts and uses on the frontend.”
The November 14 session is expected to feature expert testimony and legislative discussion on strategies to safeguard Arizona’s electoral systems while responsibly integrating emerging technologies.
Members of the public can view the livestream of the hearing here.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) announced Friday that he has signed on to Rep. Abe Hamadeh’s ‘Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections’ Act, known as H.R. 2499. The bill is designed to codify President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14248, which enhances U.S. election security by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, restricting mail-in ballot deadlines, and prioritizing enforcement against non-citizen voting.
The bill further mandates that states require proof of citizenship in the form of a government-issued ID on voter registration forms, orders the Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Social Security Administration to provide federal database access to states for determining voter eligibility, and requires a single Election Day deadline for vote tabulation. Each measure will carry the threat of withdrawn federal funding in the event of non-compliance.
In a post to X, Crane wrote, “Proud to cosponsor @RepAbeHamadeh‘s bill to codify President Trump’s executive order on election integrity. Arizonans have witnessed poorly-run elections firsthand, and this legislation addresses key vulnerabilities. We must have an efficient and trustworthy process.”
Proud to cosponsor @RepAbeHamadeh's bill to codify President Trump's executive order on election integrity.
Arizonans have witnessed poorly-run elections firsthand, and this legislation addresses key vulnerabilities.
After introducing the bill, Hamadeh said in a statement at the time, “The American people deserve better. They deserve to know that their legally cast ballot is counted and accounted for. I am disappointed, but obviously not surprised that Mayes and Fontes seek to thwart the implementation of commonsense safeguards of democracy.”
He added, “As a trusted advisor once said to me, ‘election integrity never disenfranchised a single soul, but a single act of election fraud disenfranchises us all.’”
In a press release, he added, “In Arizona, we have seen what the mismanagement of voter rolls, failed election infrastructure, and corrupt courts can do to destroy voter confidence and faith in our system overall. We are taking swift action to rebuild citizens’ trust in our elections through comprehensive and meaningful election integrity legislation.”
Many people say we should focus on the future and move on from 2020 and 2022… How could I knowing what I know? Our elections have been hijacked, they’ve been corrupted, and the American people deserve justice. It can never happen again.
In a post to X, the Congressman observed, “Many people say we should focus on the future and move on from 2020 and 2022… How could I(?) [K]nowing what I know? Our elections have been hijacked, they’ve been corrupted, and the American people deserve justice. It can never happen again. Election Security IS National Security.”
The Phoenix law firm of Timothy La Sota issued a complaint to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on Wednesday requesting that her office launch an investigation into Attorney General Kris Mayes for allegations of illegal use of public funds on campaign activities.
In the complaint, La Sota cites A.R.S. § 16-192(A) which states that a state official “shall not spend or use public resources to influence an election, including the use or expenditure of monies, accounts, credit, materials, equipment, buildings, facilities, vehicles, postage, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, web pages and personnel and any other thing of value of the public entity.”
Reflecting on the powerful stories shared at last night’s Community Impact Hearing on federal firings and DOGE funding freezes. I won’t stand by while billionaires in D.C. cut jobs and services—I'll keep fighting for the funding Arizonans deserve. pic.twitter.com/VKjTp10K0F
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) March 6, 2025
La Sota describes two specific incidents in which he alleges Mayes violated the law, drawing from posts by Mayes to social media and reporting from The Arizona Republic.
He wrote, “We have more facts about the one in Phoenix at Central High School last month…This event was nothing more than a thinly veiled political rally hosted by people who hate Donald Trump, and organized by Kris Mayes. The event featured three other far left Democratic Attorneys General, including Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Raul Torrez of New Mexico, and Dan Rayfield of Oregon. Mayes used it as an opportunity to boost the electoral chances of Congressman David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani’s opponents, according to The Arizona Republic: ‘Where is (Rep.) David Schweikert? Where is (Rep.) Juan Ciscomani? If I have to, I’ll go hold the town hall in David Schweikert’s district, or Juan Ciscomani’s district, if that’s what it takes to give his constituents the right to speak out about this,’ Mayes said, taking aim at Arizona’s most vulnerable GOP House lawmakers.”
I will keep fighting to hold the Trump administration accountable and ensure they follow the law.
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) March 7, 2025
La Sota alleged that Mayes’ staff “clearly helped put this event together.” Further the complaint states that, though he wasn’t listed on the invitation, Ellison attended the March 5th event as shown in a Democratic Attorneys General Association livestream.
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The attorney then contends that Mayes “returned the favor by flying to Minnesota, with taxpayer money, and participating in another political rally hosted by Ellison, this one also featuring scary, radical left-winger New York Attorney General Letitia James.”
La Sota concludes, “We support Ms. Mayes’ right to associate with whoever she wants to, no matter how extreme their political views are. Likewise, she has the right to say what she wants, no matter how far out of the Arizona mainstream she is. But she may not use taxpayer resources to amplify this message. And the law reflects the principle that public schools are not to be used for politicians to host political rallies. We ask that you investigate this and ensure that Mayes is held accountable.”
Maricopa County leaders are considering a $400,000 consulting contract to review and advise on elections.
The county is looking to contract with the accounting and consulting firm BerryDunn. The proposed contract would last for one year, with options to renew for up to four additional years. The contract also allows for the county to extend the contract on a monthly basis for up to six months after May 2026.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to decide on this contract during Wednesday’s meeting. They opted to delay a decision on the contract until their June 25 meeting.
BerryDunn has previously engaged in elections-related projects for the county. The firm conducted a procurement audit for the county’s voting system and related equipment in 2021, and an assessment of the county recorder’s election planning and Election Day activities following the 2018 primary and general elections.
Talks to secure a consulting firm for another audit of the county’s elections system emerged at the start of this year immediately after a slate of fresh faces took over the board of supervisors.
If approved, BerryDunn would review six areas of the county’s elections system with the goal of improving its efficiency: chain of custody, physical security, candidate filing compliance, temporary worker hiring and training, ballot drop boxes, and vote center selection and setup. In terms of efficiency, BerryDunn promised competency in assessing risk and analyzing trends while maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations.
The proposed timeline spans three phases promising 12 deliverables: planning and oversight for the first four weeks, discovery and fieldwork for the following 14 weeks, and reporting for the final seven weeks.
In its pitch to the county for the contract, BerryDunn pointed to the size of past clientele: 650 state, local, and quasi-governmental clients nationwide. Among those, BerryDunn completed election-related engagements for the New Hampshire secretary of state from 2020 to 2021 concerning its CARES Act elections assistance and grant management.
Within Maricopa County, BerryDunn has undertaken other non-elections projects over the last decade: the Adobe Dam Recreation Center Feasibility Study, Adult Probation Case Management Consultant, Adult Probation Department – Victim Services Review, Cyber Security Risk Assessment for the Judicial Branch, Housing Choice Voucher Forensic Audit Services for the Housing Authority, Information Security Program Maturity Assessment, Parks Fee Analysis, Regional County Parks Master Planning Services, and Sheriff’s Office Bonds, Fines, and Court Order Processing Audit.
Aside from Maricopa County, BerryDunn has contracted with many local and state entities within Arizona in the past: the Departments of Agriculture, Economic Security (and its Division Of Developmental Disabilities), and Health Services; the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System; the State Land Department; Coconico, Maricopa, and Pima counties; the cities of Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, and Tucson; and the towns of Gilbert, Prescott Valley, Queen Creek, and Sahuarita.
Several months ago, BerryDunn entered a $7.25 million class action lawsuit settlement over a 2023 data breach affecting over 1.1 million individuals. The data breach compromised the names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and health insurance policy numbers for the affected individuals.
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