TL/DR –
A two-day trial is scheduled to determine if Kari Lake, a former gubernatorial candidate, can review the ballot return envelopes and signatures of about 1.3 million Maricopa County voters from the last election, which she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs. Lake maintains unproven claims of fraud and misconduct, despite data indicating enough Republicans crossed party lines to secure Hobbs’ victory. The primary issue at trial is whether the return envelopes are considered a public record under Arizona Public Records Law, with Lake arguing they are and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office claiming they are exempt from disclosure.
Kari Lake’s Election Claims Go to Trial
A trial was set to begin on Thursday, deciding on whether ex-gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake can examine the ballot return envelopes and signatures of about 1.3 million Maricopa County voters.
Most of these voters contributed to Democrat Katie Hobbs’s victory over Lake, a Republican, in the last gubernatorial election. Lake has since claimed fraud and misconduct, without proof, for her loss.
Yet data reveals that Republicans switching party lines tipped the scales in favor of Hobbs.
The trial’s main issue is if these return envelopes are considered public records under Arizona Public Records Law. Lake argues they are, while the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, representing County Recorder Stephen Richer, argues they’re exempt from disclosure.
Implications of the Trial
Richer was scheduled to testify, and the county planned to rely on early voters who experienced intimidation in 2020, according to court papers. This could support the county’s claim that revealing such records might discourage early voting or induce actual voter fraud.
The trial was set to start at 9 a.m. Thursday before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah in Phoenix, with a second day of testimony planned for Monday.
Updates on the trial will be provided as it proceeds. Please check back.
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