A Republican county official in Arizona who delayed certification of the 2022 election pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor charge of failing or refusing to perform her duty as an election officer.
The official, Peggy Judd, had cited concerns about voting machines in delaying the certification of ballots in Cochise County. Her case captured national attention as a high-profile example of the politicization of the election system following former President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 loss.
A more serious felony charge, of conspiracy, was dismissed. Prosecutors are seeking a penalty of 90 days’ probation, a period that would include the certification of this year’s presidential election.
Kris Mayes, the state’s attorney general, said in a statement that the case’s resolution “should serve as a strong reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona’s elections.”