Arizona's Republican governor Doug Ducey rejected a push by the state's Democratic secretary of state to permit online and phone options for individuals to register and even vote in the upcoming election.
"The responsibility of election officials to uphold our constitution and laws is not only a crucial responsibility, it should stand as the final test on whether changes to our election policies and procedures are appropriate—no exceptions," Ducey said in a letter to Katie Hobbs, Arizona's secretary of state.
Hobbs requested the governor issue an executive order to allow telephone and video conferencing for people who are hospitalized or in assisted living facilities and could not vote in person. But Ducey said he would not make procedural changes this close to Election Day and denied the request, arguing that weeks before the election is not the "time to experiment" with rule changes.
"The eyes of the country will be on Arizona, and the only way we can assure the electorate of the integrity of our election system is to refrain from changes in the middle of the election cycle," Ducey wrote. "This isn't the time to experiment."
Ducey told Hobbs that further proposals to change the voting laws "will not be considered at this time."
Arizona is the latest state where Democratic officials are trying to change the voting rules weeks before the election. Minnesota secretary of state Steve Simon is being sued by Republicans for his decree to allow ballots mailed in eight days after the election, even if they lack a postmark.