Gov. Hobbs Vetoes Reform to Crack Down on Electioneering

The government should not use its citizens’ tax dollars to influence who they vote for or whether they support tax increases. Yesterday, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a Goldwater Institute reform to crack down on illegal electioneering.  

In Arizona, it’s against the law for someone acting on behalf of the government to use public resources to influence voters on how to vote. This has been the case for more than 40 years. But this law has proven difficult to enforce since enforcement and penalties must come from either the county attorney where the violation occurred or the attorney general—after a complaint has been made and processed.    

Both the county attorney and attorney general have many other areas of responsibility, and enforcement of this law historically has been given less priority than others. What’s more, this is a law where timely enforcement is essential to have any practical effect: Violations occur during the election season, and the damage is done by Election Day.   

SB1036 provided another avenue to lead to more timely enforcement of the law, by empowering citizens to bring a lawsuit to enforce the law themselves. This would give citizens and courts the ability to stop the law from being broken in a timelier manner. In fact, even the threat of a citizen’s suit would have forced government officials to take this law more seriously. 

Unfortunately, Governor Hobbs vetoed SB1036. The status quo prevails.  

But the Goldwater Institute exists to ensure government stays accountable to the people, even when it doesn’t want to. And we will continue to enforce the law, monitor the use of public resources, and challenge illegal electioneering. After all, government officials shouldn’t be campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime.   

Christopher Thomas is Director of Legal Strategy for Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute.