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    • Arizona needs more leaders like us who say elections are safe
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    Arizona needs more leaders like us who say elections are safe

    Online Niel Posted on

    We are Republican and Democratic leaders speaking with one voice: Your vote matters and Arizona’s election is secure.

    Jan Brewer, Daniel Hernandez, Jonathan Lines and Matt Salmon
    | opinion contributors

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    Increasing political tension and division in Arizona and the nation are leaving many voters feeling disconnected from our election process.

    With a constant wave of misinformation on social media and the exaggerated political rhetoric used by both parties, it is difficult for many voters to distinguish fiction from reality.

    While many of us may disagree on various public policy measures affecting our state and nation, we should all agree that strengthening our constitutional federal republic and building confidence in our choices it is paramount, regardless of party affiliation.

    Each of us has had the privilege of serving our great state in multiple capacities, and we’ve seen firsthand how strong, principled, and truth-telling can restore voters’ trust and protect our freedoms.

    Arizona elections just got even safer

    Arizona has long been a leader in election security. Voting machines are tested to ensure their integrity.

    Audits are conducted after each election to verify accuracy, and paper ballots are stored in locked facilities to confirm their security.

    These practices are not just about compliance, they are about trust.

    The reality is that Arizona has the toughest and most secure electoral laws in the nation and many of them were in place long before the 2020 elections.

    In fact, since the 2020 election, Arizona has implemented many excellent policies to further secure our elections. To name just a few, our status now:

    • Ask the Arizona Secretary of State to eliminate dead voters from the voter lists. Prior to this change, the Secretary was permitted but not required to take this action.
    • Prohibit private money to be used in the administration of elections in Arizona.
    • Ban county recorders from sending advance ballots to any person who has not registered on the active list of early voters or submitted an application to the county in which they are registered to vote.
    • Prohibit same day voter registration.
    • Requires registration forms to include a statement informing the voters that if he moves out of state, his Arizona voter registration will be canceled.
    • Prohibits the use of county tape recorders unmonitored drop boxes for receiving voted advance ballots.

    Voters must believe that elections are safe

    It is not enough that elections are safe – they must also be seen as safe. This means increasing public outreach by our state and local election officials in both parties and educating voters about how our voting and vote counting processes work.

    When voters hear from people they trust that the process is safe, that their vote counts, and that the system is working as it should, it makes a difference. It’s about more than words; it’s about building a culture of trust and confidence in our electoral system.

    A recent survey commissioned by the Democracy Defense Project revealed that efforts to change the 2020 presidential election have created an environment where voters are worried about election interference in November.

    This includes majorities of independents and Republicans. Even Democrats are relatively divided, over concerns about voter intimidation and misinformation.

    While there are wide and deep differences by partisan affiliation, the survey also found areas of agreement on some of the biggest threats to the integrity of our elections and how to combat those threats.

    This includes allowing bipartisan oversight of all election results; identifying messages from foreign adversaries on social networks and informing voters about them before the election; and banning electronic tabulating machines from being connected to the Internet.

    Fortunately, many are already current laws and processes in Arizona.

    More leaders need to combat misinformation

    Local elected officials did more than that to inform the public about electoral guarantees in force in Arizona, but many voters are still unaware of the facts.

    As we head into one of the most important and controversial elections of our lifetimes, it is critical that we continue to educate those individuals that most election concerns are already addressed by very robust election laws in place.

    Thousands of people across the state – your family members and neighbors – selflessly volunteer at the polls to help the community participate in this civic duty. These election officials and volunteers deserve our gratitude and respect.

    Given the number of contested races and ballot propositions in this election, the ballots will be long and many registered voters will participate.

    For those voting in person on Election Day, please be patient. Although counties are preparing for any scenario, long ballots will result in longer wait times, but your vote is important and safe.

    Leaders must lead. This is why we need more leaders from both parties to speak out to combat the misinformation that has been circulating for four years, negatively impacting perceptions of our election.

    The only way we can restore voter confidence in the system is to have trusted voices speak the truth, loud and often. By affirming election security and embracing transparency, we can restore and strengthen the trust that is the cornerstone of our democracy.

    Former Governor Jan Brewer, former State Representative Daniel Hernandez, Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines and former U.S. Representative Matt Salmon are board members of the Arizona Democracy Defense Project. On X, formerly Twitter, @DemoDefenseProj.

    Online Niel
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