Ugenti-Rita: Here’s why I’m the best candidate for Arizona Secretary of State

Since the election of 2020, there has been a tremendous amount of attention and focus placed on the integrity and security of our elections.

While I am pleased it is finally getting the attention it deserves, it is an issue I have been working on for the past 11 years.

I am running for the office of Secretary of State to restore confidence in the outcome of our elections. For far too long, and especially now, the office has suffered from occupants who lacked experience, knowledge, vision and from being distracted because their eye was on the next higher office. Arizonans can no longer afford that style of leadership and especially empty platitudes. It is time to get serious about the importance of this office and how it operates.

It is clear I am the only candidate in this race who has successfully championed significant election integrity legislation. Recognizing deficiencies in our election laws that had been abused and exploited, I championed several reforms including banning ballot harvesting, strengthening our voter ID requirements, stopping mail-in ballots being sent to voters who are not actively voting by mail and prohibiting mail-in ballots with no signature from being tabulated after 7 p.m. on election day.

As your next Secretary of State, I am well prepared to engage the 15 county boards of supervisors, county recorders and the legislature to ensure there is uniformity, accountability and that the laws governing our elections are being followed. In order to do so as required by law, I will develop the Elections Procedures Manual so voters will have confidence in the outcome of our elections.

Unfortunately, our current Secretary of State has been unwilling to draft a manual that can receive the required approval to be utilized. As a result, the manual governing the 2020 election will be used again for the 2022 election. This further contributes to voters’ lack of confidence if our elections and is why a competent experienced leader is needed to get the job done.

The administration of elections and the concept of election security and integrity are often oversimplified. Reactionary, after the fact “solutions” are not sufficient to address voter confidence because by then the damage is already done. Legislation that is “Elections In Name Only” is not a reason it should be supported. These are complex issues that require thorough vetting and thoughtfulness to avoid any negative unintended consequences.

Being successful in championing policy at the legislature has made me a target of the Democrats at the state and national level. They have been so threatened by what I have passed that I have been falsely accused of being a racist and wanting to suppress people’s ability to vote. Further, they have taken multiple bills to court in an attempt to block them.

Thankfully, due to my diligence in preparing and advocating for them, I have been successful in defending them, including a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court.

With what is at stake in the 2024 presidential election, it is vitally important that I am Arizona’s next Secretary of State. We cannot afford someone who will need to learn on the job because we do not want a repeat of 2020.

To make sure Arizona is a true benchmark to the rest of the nation in how elections are administered we need a strong and experienced leader — that leader is me.

I humbly ask that you support my candidacy for the office of Secretary of State by voting for me on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

Learn more about my vision at www.ElectMichelle.com.

Editor’s note: Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita is a Republican primary candidate for Arizona Secretary of State.