A veteran state lawmaker thinks he's found a way to finally end the debate over whether humans are better or worse than machines at counting ballots. Put them both to the test.

The Arizona Republican Party is making a last-ditch effort to get a court to do what lawmakers have so far refused: Kill on-demand early voting in the state.

Three current and former Republican lawmakers are hoping to avoid paying the legal fees of a Democrat who a judge said was unfairly sued by them because she and others asked the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate their actions around the Jan. 6 riot.

Mark Finchem is still trying to raise money this week to pay off what he said is the debt for his failed bid for secretary of state. In a new fundraising email to supporters on Wednesday, Finchem asked people to "donate $25, $50, $100 or more'' to "stand with election integrity'' and "fight the propaganda.'' But it concludes with a disclosure that any money raised will "help pay off campaign debt.''

All Arizonans will continue to be able to vote by mail despite efforts by the state Republican Party to kill the practice. The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected arguments by a lawyer for the GOP and Kelli Ward, its chair, that allowing people to vote from their own homes or anywhere other than a polling place violates a constitutional requirement for a secret ballot.

Seeking to restore public confidence, Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday created a bipartisan panel to study the state's election system and recommend changes.

A judge dismissed eight of the ten claims in Kari Lake’s election contest lawsuit, allowing two counts claiming violations of ballot chain of custody and alleging printer interference in Maricopa County to go forward in an evidentiary hearing.  

Judges across the state set hearings for election contests as the challenges fly under the 10-day deadline to be heard in court.  

Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed local election officials in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, asking for communications with or involving former President Donald Trump, his 2020 campaign aides and a list of allies involved in his efforts to try to overturn the results of the election.

Gov. Doug Ducey wants a big change in state election law that he said should lead to people knowing the outcome of all contested races that night, or soon after.