A resolution designed to bring Arizona’s election reporting process in line with Florida’s — where results are typically known within hours of polls closing — failed last week in a surprise late-night vote after a key Republican senator broke with her party.
HCR 2013, sponsored by Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R‑Scottsdale), would have implemented voter roll maintenance reforms modeled after Florida law, allowing for the removal of inactive voters after multiple missed election cycles and failed contact attempts. Supporters said the measure would reduce delays in ballot tabulation, cut down on provisional ballots, and increase public trust in elections.
But the measure was defeated around 2 a.m. in the Senate Elections Committee when Senator Shawnna Bolick (R‑Phoenix) voted with Democrats to block it.
“2AM BETRAYAL,” Kolodin posted on X shortly after the vote. “@SenBolick crossed over with Dems at 2AM last night to KILL HCR2013—our Florida‑style election fix to clean AZ voter rolls.”
Capitol Insider Claims: Credit, Not Policy, at the Center
Multiple Capitol insiders claim that Bolick’s opposition to HCR 2013 may have been politically motivated. According to several staffers familiar with the internal dynamics, Bolick has introduced similar legislation and reportedly preferred to carry the policy herself rather than allow Kolodin to lead on the issue.
“She has a nearly identical bill, and she didn’t want Kolodin getting the win,” one senior legislative aide said. “This was about ownership — not opposition.”
The maneuvering has raised concerns within conservative circles, particularly as the GOP continues to call for election reforms ahead of 2026.
Same-Day Results Remain Out of Reach
Arizona remains one of the slowest states in the country to finalize election results, often taking several days or more. In contrast, Florida’s aggressive voter list maintenance and streamlined ballot processing allow for results to be reported within hours.
Kolodin and other supporters of HCR 2013 argue that bloated rolls, outdated contact records, and a growing number of provisional ballots are the primary culprits behind Arizona’s delays.
“We should be reporting results on election night like Florida does,” Kolodin said. “We can’t get there without cleaning up our rolls.”
A Second Controversial Vote
Bolick’s vote on HCR 2013 follows another high-profile decision earlier this month, when she cast a deciding vote in favor of the state budget negotiated with Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. The budget, which passed with bipartisan support, drew criticism from conservatives who said it increased government spending while sidelining Republican priorities.
“She voted to kill election reform and backed the budget Hobbs wanted,” one GOP strategist commented. “It’s a troubling pattern.”
What’s Next?
Despite the late-night setback, HCR 2013 may not be dead for long. Kolodin confirmed that the bill is eligible for reconsideration after Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) flipped his vote to keep the resolution alive.
“Huge thank you to Senator @JakeHoffmanAZ for quickly flipping his vote so the bill can be reconsidered and brought back,” Kolodin posted.
He is expected to bring the measure back for another vote in the coming days, keeping the issue of election reform front and center in the legislative session — and in his campaign for Arizona Secretary of State.
ring on her finger – and in his nose… ?
The Arizona Republican party will be stronger when its vocal members will respect the memory of John McCain, and respect the opinions of those who revered him as an outstanding American, veteran, and patriot. We can disagree about policies and still stay civil to each other, or we can lose elections — take your pick.
Traitor and crook McCain and his like are the reason we have Hobbs and Mayes. They happily give a thumbs down to anything MAGA just like Johnny. Fortunately they’re done in AZ
I can respect the man’s service in uniform, but his “service” on The Hill devolved from mustang to contrarian and Democrat appeaser, if not conspirator. Electing RINOs is not factually different from “losing” elections.
The poster child for the peril of unlimited terms in office.
Bolick’s SPECTACULAR DISPLAY OF (McCanish) EGOCENTRISM will not be soon forgotten.
Horrible! Silencing conscience over notoriety? Exactly why we are so divided. What a disgusting display of divisiveness. No worries about leftists destroying Az, it’s the RINOs who betray us! Why Bolick? Seriously! SMH
Someone needs to be replaced! I know how my neighbors will vote and it’s going to be against her!
We don’t know her actual motives. It could be petty or it could be a single but significant difference in the bills. We all know that poison pills are a thing – Dems introduce a bill to cut taxes, but fully fund Planned Parenthood’s abortion program, for example, knowing conservatives won’t vote for that – so I’m not going to condemn her on the opinions of a single article. Still, Lefties make more headway sooner because they march lockstep in the same general direction; of course, if that direction ultimately is utter destruction of our national character and civilization, the particulars don’t really matter.
She’s a “TRADER” to the State – the Party – herself ; What’s in it for ME ME ME… it’s not ‘her’ party – it’s OUR’s – she needs to be removed – by all means available – as quickly as possible – there is nothing further she can do for Arizona of worth. The change and chance was her – she’s made her choice. Recall? what ever the political means.. get her back to where she came from.
ME – ME – ME – the Female “John Kerry” an embarrassment to VN vets – same mind set
Gee, what a waste of a politician when ego is more important than the good of the people. Pathetic. She needs to be primaried and very quickly. You are looking at one of the reasons that AZ is turning blue and will be a democrat state by 2028.
Of course she did. She knows if Arizona moves to the Florida style election system Democrats can’t steal the election and she’s all for that
Amen
“She has a nearly identical bill, and she didn’t want Kolodin getting the win,” one senior legislative aide said. “This was about ownership — not opposition.”
Hey, Bolick, you can’t win them all. Never underestimate the Republicans ability to screw things up between elections and then wonder why they lose in the next. This is reminiscent of McCain’s thumbs down during the vote on repealing Obamacare. McCain didn’t hurt Trump. He hurt the American people by ensuring that mandatory health insurance stayed in effect, and all the bureaucratic hoops we had to jump through to prove so. So thank you Sen. Bolick. Thanks for nothing.
Nailed it. Even in death little RINO Johnnie McCain raises his head again. I just wish all AZ republicans could just relegate him to the dustbin of history where he belongs. But unfortunately he is a saint to a lot of people but I am not one of them.