TL/DR –
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is seeking a judge’s approval to access 1.3 million voters’ ballot return envelopes. Lake and her attorney, Bryan Blehm, sued Maricopa County earlier this year for access to the envelopes and the voter signatures on them, in an effort to cast doubt on Lake’s election defeat. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah is to decide whether the Recorder’s Office was justified in denying the records request, with the trial expected to conclude on Monday.
Kari Lake’s Quest for Access to Ballot Return Envelopes Continues
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake continues her pursuit for access to 1.3 million voter ballot return envelopes on the second day of the public records trial.
Maricopa County plans to call a voter and an election official as witnesses to defend their case against the allegations of election conspiracies. Lake’s attorney, Bryan Blehm, indicates he may not present any witnesses for their case.
Lake and Blehm sued Maricopa County earlier this year for access to ballot return envelopes and voter signatures. Their aim is to scrutinize these in Lake’s ongoing effort to question her election loss to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, which was less than one percentage point.
Their separate election challenge requesting a judge to name Lake as governor or order a redo of the 2022 election is still pending before an appeals court.
Public Records Law and Voter Signature Protection
Blehm made an earlier request for the envelopes under the Arizona Public Records Law, which grants public access to government records. However, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office denied their request, citing a provision of state law that protects voter signatures and the “best interest of the state.”
Judge to Decide on Records Request Denial
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah has been asked to judge whether the Recorder’s Office had valid reasons to deny the records request. The trial, which started last Thursday, was expected to conclude on Monday.
The trial’s outcome will be updated as proceedings continue. Please check back for more updates.
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