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UpdateArizonaTuesday, October 27, 2026

Arizona Supreme Court rules Clean Elections can't override funding certifications

The court ruled that the Citizens Clean Elections Commission lacks authority to override the secretary of state's certification of candidates for public campaign funding.

Reporting by
AZ FREE NEWS
“Arizona Supreme Court Rules Clean Elections Can’t Override Secretary Of State’s Funding Certifications”, Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the Citizens Clean Elections Commission lacks the authority to override the secretary of state's certification of candidates for public campaign funding. The court, in a ruling last Friday authored by Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer, sided with Green Party gubernatorial candidate Risa Lombardo and secretary of state candidate DuWayne Collier, who sued the CCEC in September. The two candidates sued after executive director Tom Collins sent letters in August threatening repayment of roughly $2.8 million and $739,000 respectively.1

The CCEC must submit its investigation results by October 29, five days before the general election.1

$2.8 million
repayment amount threatened for gubernatorial candidate1
$739,000
repayment amount threatened for secretary of state candidate1
What it means in Arizona

What this means for the election calendar

The statewide canvass must be done by the third Monday after the election, November 23, 2026, with certifications issued promptly thereafter.2

Key dates in Arizona

Election Day in 5 days
  1. Mon, Oct 5 · passed
    Registration deadline
  2. Wed, Oct 7 · passed
    Early voting begins
  3. Fri, Oct 23 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  4. Tue, Nov 3 · 5 days
    Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive
  5. Thu, Nov 19 · 21 days
    County/Local certification
  6. Mon, Nov 23 · 25 days
    State certification

Every date in Arizona, and who certifies the election

More on this story
Arizona · Oct 17
Maricopa County Recorder's Office asked FBI to investigate conspiracy group claim
Reporting by KJZZ Politics
Arizona · Oct 15
Maricopa County officials respond to election workers controversy
Reporting by The Black Chronicle
The answers behind this
Who runs elections, and who can't interfereVoting in Arizona, 2026Who certifies the election in Arizona, and by when?How are votes counted and certified in Arizona?

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Sources

  1. AZ FREE NEWS, https://azfreenews.com/2026/10/arizona-supreme-court-rules-clean-elections-cant-override-secretary-of-states-funding-certifications/ · Tuesday, October 27, 2026
  2. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

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