PHOENIX — The No. 2 Republican in the state senate is telling county election officials they cannot use electronic equipment to cast, record and tabulate ballots unless it is manufactured and assembled in the United States — something not currently available.
But they are saying he has no idea about what he is speaking. And Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is telling those same county officials they are free to ignore what Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli claims — Fontes says wrongfully — is a requirement.
In a letter Monday to supervisors in all 15 counties, Borrelli acknowledged Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would have imposed that mandate. The governor said there is currently no equipment available that meets the requirement, meaning elections could not be properly run.
