Watch: Arizona officials hold statewide canvass to certify election results

PHOENIX — Arizona officials are set to gather Monday for the statewide canvass to certify the Nov. 8 general election results.

The 10 a.m. proceedings are closed to the public but are being livestreamed at the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office Facebook page and on Zoom.

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, will certify the results, per state law, in the presence of Gov. Doug Ducey, Attorney General Mark Brnovich, both Republicans, and Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel.

Monday’s canvass — the formal process of certifying the election — covers federal, statewide and legislative offices as well as statewide ballot measures. That includes Hobbs’ victory over Kari Lake in the race to succeed Ducey, who couldn’t run again because of term limits.

All 15 of the state’s counties have certified their results and forwarded them to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Fourteen completed their canvass by last Monday’s state-mandated deadline. Cochise County’s three-member board of supervisors went past the deadline because two Republicans held out. The county finally certified its results Thursday in accordance with a judge’s order.

Under Arizona statute, lawsuits challenging election results can’t be filed until after the statewide canvass has been completed. Challenges by Lake and others are expected to hit the courts following Monday’s proceedings.

The canvass also clears the way for the automatic recount process to begin. The process is expected to take several weeks.

The races for two statewide offices — attorney general and superintendent of public instruction — and one state House seat were close enough to trigger recounts under state law.

The inauguration ceremony for statewide winners is set for Jan. 5.

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