The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, and Arizona Democratic Party today filed a lawsuit challenging Arizona’s mail-in ballot rules that risk disenfranchising thousands of voters.

Under the current law, Arizona election officials reject mail-in ballots that are missing signatures. The policy is at odds with how other mail-in ballots are processed. For example, if the signature on a mail-in ballot does not match the signature the state has on file, a voter has five business days from the date of the election to correct the issue and ensure their vote is counted.

Voters who submit mail-in ballots without a signature do not have the same opportunity to cure them, and their votes may not be counted. In Maricopa County alone, election officials rejected 18,420 mail-in ballots between 2008 and 2018 because they were missing signatures. The rule disproportionately impacts communities of color and Tribal Nations, who are more likely to have their ballots rejected due to missing signatures.

“All voters should be granted the same opportunities to address an issue with their ballot and have confidence their vote will be counted,” said DSCC Executive Director Scott Fairchild. “We know there are safeguards the state can put in place to protect voters and the integrity of our elections, and we are committed to making sure those measures are in place.”

“Today we’re fighting to ensure that every Arizonan’s vote is counted by challenging this overbearing rule that is disenfranchising voters,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “Arizona’s flawed mail-in ballot signatures rule has led to ballots being tossed aside and uncounted – and that’s unacceptable. Democrats will continue to fight to protect the right to vote and against rules and laws that purposely restrict the rights of voters in Arizona and across the country to participate in our democracy.”

“Every Arizonan deserves the right to have their voice heard at the ballot box. We are fighting this draconian rule that is disenfranchising voters and making it harder for ballots to be cast and counted,” said Arizona Democratic Party Chair Felecia Rotellini. “Arizona Democrats will never stop working to ensure that the right to vote is protected.”

The DSCC and DNC have made a significant investment in fighting voter suppression in battleground states across the country — including Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and Texas — and won major rulings in Michigan, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Read the complaint here.