Arizona Republican Representatives Teresa Martinez and Rachel Jones have formally requested an investigation into Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cazares-Kelly's handling of the 2024 General Election. Their letter to Attorney General Kris Mayes alleges several irregularities, including the premature closure of the online ballot request portal, potential vulnerabilities in the voter registration system for incarcerated individuals, and questionable procedures for managing undeliverable ballots.

The lawmakers assert that the online ballot request system was deactivated six days before the legal deadline, potentially disenfranchising nearly 4,000 voters. They also express concerns that inadequate safeguards in the voter registration program for prison inmates may have enabled ineligible individuals to cast ballots. Furthermore, they raise questions about the handling of undeliverable ballots under Cazares-Kelly's leadership.

Previous attempts by Representatives Jones and Cory McGarr to address these concerns with the Recorder's Office reportedly went unanswered. Martinez and Jones emphasize the importance of election integrity and transparency, calling for a thorough investigation to address the alleged irregularities and restore public trust.

Cazares-Kelly's office responded to the allegations in a November 19 press release, attributing the early closure of the online ballot request portal to a district boundary error and a subsequent surge in ballot requests. They explained that the manual processing of these requests proved overwhelming and that they contacted affected voters via email to expedite the process. Cazares-Kelly expressed confidence that the majority of voters who used the online form ultimately received their ballots.

The Attorney General's office confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment on potential investigations. Cazares-Kelly's background as the first Native American woman elected to a seat in Pima County and her involvement with the Progressive Democrats of Southern Arizona and the Arizona Democratic Party's Native American Caucus are also noted.

The lawmakers' letter also references a previous investigation by Mayes into remarks made by President-elect Trump about former Representative Liz Cheney. They draw a parallel between that investigation and the current situation, urging a similar level of scrutiny for Cazares-Kelly's conduct during the 2024 election.