State Senator Kelly Townsend Wants to Invalidate Mailed-In Ballots

Another day, another bill pushed by Republican Arizona lawmakers that would restrict early voting in the state.

State Senator Kelly Townsend, who represents Arizona's 16th Legislative District, has introduced a bill mandating that voters who receive their ballot by mail must return it in person.

The bill, SB 1503, requires that voters who receive an early ballot by mail may only return it by "delivering it by hand to a designated voting location." It would also mandate that any "early ballots that are received by mail are invalid and may not be processed" by election officials.

Townsend, the bill's sponsor, did not respond to New Times' request for comment. But the east Valley lawmaker has routinely given voice to the conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen from former Republican President Donald Trump. In early December, she asked Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to investigate allegations of voter fraud, but he ultimately declined.

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