Steve Montenegro, an Arizona state representative, said that the Court of Appeals’ decision to block Secretary Adrian Fontes’ election rules reaffirms the Legislature’s authority and strengthens election integrity.
“Arizona House Republicans just won again,” said Montenegro, State Representative from Arizona. “The Court of Appeals blocked Secretary Fontes’ unlawful EPM rules and affirmed the Legislature’s right to step in when Democrat officials won’t defend state law. Another victory for election integrity!”
The Arizona Court of Appeals issued a decision blocking election procedure changes proposed by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. The court ruled that the updates to the Election Procedures Manual (EPM) exceeded executive authority, thereby affirming the Legislature’s role in setting election policy.
According to the court, the EPM outlines how Arizona elections are administered. The 2025 updates proposed by Secretary Fontes included new ballot-handling and verification rules, which critics argued conflicted with existing state statutes.
Arizona’s Court of Appeals is composed of 28 judges divided between two divisions in Phoenix and Tucson. It serves as the state’s intermediate appellate court, hearing cases on constitutional interpretation and disputes involving state administrative rules and powers.
Montenegro is a Republican lawmaker serving as House Majority Leader in the Arizona House of Representatives. A longtime advocate for secure elections and limited government, he has held leadership roles focused on legislative oversight and constitutional integrity.
