The GOP Has Filed a Flurry of Lawsuits in Arizona, Months Ahead of the Election

The suits are part of a broader national trend.

An election worker removes tabulated ballots

Republicans have filed at least 78 election lawsuits so far this year. Matt York/AP

Election lawsuits in Arizona have started flying, months ahead of voting.

Republicans and conservative groups — who have filed a spate of suits against the state over a document known as the “election bible” or the Elections Procedures Manual (EPM) in the last month — say it’s likely only a small taste of the fights to come. Since 2020, Arizona has become a hotbed for election-related lawsuits and 2024 is shaping up to be no different. In fact, the process is starting much earlier than usual.

The EPM is an approximately 300-page manual that the secretary of state issues, by law, that details all the ins and outs of running an election and counting the votes, like what to do on Election Day, certifying the results and how to accommodate voters with special needs. Three of the five new Arizona lawsuits target provisions of the EPM that, among other things, make it easier to vote by mail and deal with harassment and intimidation at polling locations.