A Yavapai County judge last week ruled in favor of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections in a recent lawsuit that seeks to prohibit the Arizona Secretary of State from enforcing illegal election procedures relating to mail-in ballot signature verification.

Judge John Napper rejected the Motions to Dismiss filed by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a former cartel lawyer, and Mi Familia Vota, a Democrat nonprofit. A status conference has been set for Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

The Judge notes in his order,

"The Court finds the Special Action states claim upon which relief can be granted. The Court finds the Plaintiffs have correctly defined registration record. The 2019 EPM creates a process that contradicts the plain language of A.R.S. §16-550(A). Therefore, this portion of the EPM and the instruction from the Secretary do 'not have the force of law.'"