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FACT BRIEF

Is election monitoring part of the Arizona Corporation Commission’s job description?

By Jordan Gerard
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NO

None of the Arizona Corporation Commission's divisions lists anything election-related. The ACC is responsible for utility services, maintaining railroads and pipeline systems, growing the economy and monitoring securities.

The commission’s code of ethics says commissioners should avoid conflicts of interest. They should “not allow family, social, political, employment or other relationships, including with fellow Commissioners, to influence their official conduct or judgment.”

Republican Commissioner Jim O’Connor sent two letters to Arizona officials urging them to “not trust uncertified election machines.” He said the machines were not certified by an accredited lab, required by state law. The letter noted that if county election officials used the machines, “every elected official responsible will be held personally liable and accountable.” 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Katie Hobbs filed an ethics complaint against O’Connor on Oct. 20, saying he abused his position as a state regulator by sharing debunked conspiracy theories.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Arizona Corporation Commission ACC Mission and Background
Arizona Corporation Commission Code of Ethics
Arizona Legislature Committee approval; adoption of vote tabulating equipment; experimental use; emergency
Fourth Estate 48 Katie Hobbs files ethics complaint against Arizona Corporation Commissioner
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the state’s only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR's mission is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.