The Honest Elections Project has filed an amicus brief supporting a Republican lawsuit against Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) over his handling of the state’s Election Procedures Manual. At issue is whether Fontes violated state law by limiting the public comment period to just 15 days instead of the 30 required under Arizona’s Administrative Procedures Act.
The Republican National Committee, the Republican Party of Arizona, and the Yavapai County Republican Party filed the lawsuit in 2023, arguing that Fontes’ actions made the manual invalid. A Maricopa County Superior Court initially dismissed the case, but in March the Arizona Court of Appeals reversed the decision, finding that Fontes failed to comply with procedural requirements. Fontes has since appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on October 14.
The Honest Elections Project, a nonprofit focused on election integrity, emphasized in its filing that public trust in elections depends on transparency. “Elections are the lifeblood of democracy,” the group stated, warning that when rules lack fairness and proper oversight, results are “viewed with suspicion” and risk fueling “chaos and government instability.”
Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, said Arizona law clearly requires 30 days for public comment on administrative actions, including election rules. “Fontes can’t create election rules as he goes,” Snead said. “He must follow the proper rule-making process, like any other state agency.”
The brief argued that the Election Procedures Manual is one of the most consequential regulatory documents in Arizona, shaping how elections are conducted statewide. By failing to follow the law, the group contends, Fontes undermined both the process and public confidence in election administration.
The case underscores ongoing battles over election integrity in Arizona, where disputes over procedures, ballot security, and transparency remain front-line political issues. If the state Supreme Court upholds the appellate ruling, Fontes could be barred from enforcing the 2023 manual until he restarts the rule-making process in full compliance with state law.
