Judge Extends Arizona Voter Registration Deadline To Oct. 23

ARIZONA — A U.S. District Court judge ruled Monday that Arizonans must be given more time to register to vote in light of the coronavirus pandemic's restrictions.

Justice Steven P. Logan heard arguments Monday — the original voter registration deadline — from two voter advocacy organizations, who filed for a preliminary injunction Sept. 30 against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. The Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee intervened and joined the lawsuit to defend Hobbs. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also filed an amicus brief in support of Hobbs.

In his decision, Logan said that the coronavirus pandemic made it more difficult for voters to register in-person and that many in Arizona lack the internet access needed to register online.

"Registering to vote has never been easier for some, though others are not so fortunate. Ballot access is an extremely important right, and it has been restricted during this unprecedented time," Logan wrote.

The advocacy groups, Mi Familia Vota and the Arizona Coalition for Change, had argued that approximately 65,000 voters could be registered from now until Oct. 27, the deadline they initially sought, and that 31 states have voter registration deadlines after Arizona.

Eduardo Sainz, the Arizona director for Mi Familia Vota, celebrated Logan's decision in a statement on Twitter.

“The historic extension of the Arizona voter registration deadline is a victory for the community," he wrote. "At this critical time, we must ensure that our communities are ready and can participate in our democracy."

“The historic extension of the Arizona voter registration deadline is a victory for the community. At this critical time, we must ensure that our communities are ready and can participate in our democracy." - @esgsainz MFV AZ State Director. pic.twitter.com/cZ7OnTWurv
— Mi Familia Vota (@MiFamiliaVota) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/MiFamiliaV... 6, 2020

Hobbs and the other two plaintiffs had argued that extending the deadline so close to the Nov. 3 election would cause confusion for voters and place an extra burden on the state. The new deadline of Oct. 23 is also the last day voters in Arizona can request a mail-in ballot.

While the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have already filed an appeal, Hobbs announced on Twitter that she would not be joining their efforts and encouraged Arizonans not to wait to register to vote.

"With the general election less than a month away, Arizonans deserve a quick resolution to this matter," she wrote. "Providing clarity is more important than pursuing this litigation."