Hobbs allocates $2.3 million in federal funding toward elections

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is allocating $2.3 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act in order to support state elections ahead of 2024.

In addition, the governor issued three Executive Orders pertaining to elections on Thursday. One will allow state employees to take time off as paid leave in order to be poll workers, one prompting "state agencies to provide voter registration information and assistance" to Arizonans, and another allowing state government buildings to be used as voting locations.

The changes come as the Elections Task Force made several recommendations in order to improve the elections process. The task force was chaired by former Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell and Hobbs, and it included a range of voices including state Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

“As Secretary of State I oversaw the most secure elections in Arizona history, but I know we must continue to improve Arizona’s elections ahead of 2024,” Hobbs said in a statement.

“Election officials and voters are facing new challenges when it comes to administering elections and participating in our democracy. I am thrilled to immediately address some of the problems identified by the Bipartisan Elections Task Force to ensure Arizona voters can make their voices heard," she continued.

The news release states that $1 million of the funds will be used for a fellowship program as well as other personnel support at the state and county level. Notably, the release mentions that they intend for counties to hire consultants to help close the knowledge gap created by many election staffers deciding to leave their jobs.

Another $700,000 is intended to support the Access Information Voter Database, and the remaining $600,000 will be used for a variety of purposes such as election security.

Purcell said the panel was useful in bringing different voices to the table.

“It was rewarding to see them come together week after week to brainstorm where additional support is needed, collaborate on potential solutions, and develop the proposals in the final report," she said in a statement.

Arizona elections have been the subject of intense scrutiny since former President Donald Trump narrowly lost the state in the 2020 election. The state continues to be a battleground, particularly in Maricopa County, whose 2022 election administration gained a whirlwind of controversy as they faced technical issues on Election Day, Votebeat reported. The issues ended up being the subject of lawsuits from former Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake.