(The Center Square) – A memorandum of understanding between the Arizona State Legislature and Lambeck Corporation, one of Maricopa County’s main election administration agencies, has been repealed following a decision by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
The agreement that was created will improve election integrity and allow observers to be present at the Lambeck facility during vote counting, as was done during the July primary. According to a Sept. 5 interview with 550 KFYI radio by Rep. Alexander Kolodin, who proposed the agreement, the only part missing from the memorandum was approval from Maricopa County, which was not approved.
The decision should have been made by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, but Kolodin blamed Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell's influence on the board for the agreement not going into effect, going so far as to say Republicans should not vote for Mitchell, the Republican candidate, for reelection.
“This was contingent on Maricopa County approval, which we thought we already had,” Kolodin said. “We're not trying to increase transparency for the county. We were trying to go back to the Lambeck facility and increase transparency for the company, which is a private company. And now Maricopa County, at the behest of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, is saying, 'We're not going to allow the Legislature to do that.'”
Mitchell immediately contacted X and defended himself, claiming he had nothing to do with the decision.
“Rep. Kolodin misrepresents the situation by claiming that the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO) rejected this modification,” Mitchell wrote. “Quite the opposite is true: The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has no authority to approve or reject the conditions. The MCAO can only advise the Board of Supervisors on actions the Board is authorized to take by law. Rep. Kolodin's misinformation campaign is false, irresponsible, and inflammatory.”
In an apparent attempt to clear the air the next day, Governor Mitchell issued a joint statement with AZGOP Chair Gina Swoboda saying that while the memorandum had not been accepted, observers would still be allowed at the Lambeck facility during the vote count on election night.
“AZGOP fully supports County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and appreciates all she does to protect the residents of Maricopa County,” Swoboda said. “As party chair, I am committed to election integrity, and I know County Attorney Mitchell is too. If Republicans are united, we will win. Let's stay focused and get this election going, and get Republicans elected on every vote.”
Kolodin said he appreciates the exception because he believes the observation program is the most important part of the MOU.
“There are other aspects of the memorandum that remain to be addressed, but none are as important as the improvements to the oversight program, which were essential for the timeline bill to function properly,” Kolodin said.
The monitoring program allows up to three “observers” from each political party to be present when ballots are sorted at Lambek during the general election. Observers will have access to the loading dock, camera footage, the sorting area and the entrance to the ballot storage room.
Other provisions in the memorandum that won't apply during the November election include the Arizona House of Representatives conducting an audit of the software used for signature verification in Maricopa County and the two chambers viewing footage of the Lambeck loading dock on the night of the 2022 general election “to enhance public confidence.”
Kolodin said Rumbek supports all of the reforms outlined in the agreement.
“I appreciate the collaboration of Lambeck's new management team and their willingness to increase the transparency that is the foundation of public trust and confidence,” Kolodin said.
Both Kolodin and Mitchell are up for re-election in November, and Kolodin said in a statement that he plans to vote Republican “all the way” and would likely support Mitchell again in his re-election bid.
