An Arizona judge ruled on Friday that Senate Republicans in the state can have access to Maricopa County’s 2.1 million ballots from the 2020 general election as well as corresponding voting equipment to perform an audit.
Timothy Thomason, the Maricopa County Superior Court Judge, ruled election-related subpoenas issued by the chamber are valid and indeed enforceable.
The Associated Press reported that Thomason wrote there is “no question” that the senators have the power to issue legislative subpoenas as the GOP-controlled Maricopa County Board of Supervisors disagreed with Senate Republicans on accessibility to the ballots.
Jack Sellers, the chairman of the board, said they’ll comply with the ruling.
Senate President Karen Fann said the chamber is “thrilled and grateful.”
“This has never been about overturning an election,” Fann said. “This has always been 100 percent about voter integrity and finding the answers to all of our voters’ questions about the safety and security and validity of the Arizona electoral system.”
The Senate will perform a full forensic audit.
