Post by Logan on Jun 15, 2016 20:04:38 GMT -6
AG rejects 'election bible' complaint against Secretary of State Michele Reagan
Arizona law says the secretary of state must issue a procedures manual for "each election," but that is a matter of interpretation, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich decided in rejecting a complaint against Secretary Michele Reagan.
Reagan made a "plausible" interpretation of the law when she decided earlier this year that a new manual doesn't have to be produced to guide election workers. She argued there wasn't time to compile one, and said the 2014 guidance is sufficient for the upcoming primary and general elections.
Chief deputy Michael Bailey concluded there were numerous ways the law could be — and has been — read. For example, past secretaries of state have interpreted the law to mean a new manual for each election cycle, which usually encompasses two elections, Bailey stated. This year, Arizona is staging four statewide elections, which could lead to four manuals, he reasoned.
Reagan's decision to stick with the existing manual is another way to look at the law, Bailey wrote in a letter to Chandler attorney Tom Ryan, who last week asked the attorney general to intervene and force Reagan to produce a 2016 manual.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/15/ag-rejects-election-bible-complaint-against-secretary-state-michele-reagan/85891002/
It will be interesting to see whether the complaint against he SoS will turn into a lawsuit. There appear to be some legitimate issues that required addressing various procedural issues.
Arizona law says the secretary of state must issue a procedures manual for "each election," but that is a matter of interpretation, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich decided in rejecting a complaint against Secretary Michele Reagan.
Reagan made a "plausible" interpretation of the law when she decided earlier this year that a new manual doesn't have to be produced to guide election workers. She argued there wasn't time to compile one, and said the 2014 guidance is sufficient for the upcoming primary and general elections.
Chief deputy Michael Bailey concluded there were numerous ways the law could be — and has been — read. For example, past secretaries of state have interpreted the law to mean a new manual for each election cycle, which usually encompasses two elections, Bailey stated. This year, Arizona is staging four statewide elections, which could lead to four manuals, he reasoned.
Reagan's decision to stick with the existing manual is another way to look at the law, Bailey wrote in a letter to Chandler attorney Tom Ryan, who last week asked the attorney general to intervene and force Reagan to produce a 2016 manual.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/15/ag-rejects-election-bible-complaint-against-secretary-state-michele-reagan/85891002/
It will be interesting to see whether the complaint against he SoS will turn into a lawsuit. There appear to be some legitimate issues that required addressing various procedural issues.