Fontes says it’s too late for Arizona election officials to comply with court order, asks for delay

Saying its too late to comply now, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes wants a judge to delay her order immediately blocking election officials from enforcing some rules about what people can do in and around polling places.

Fontes is asking a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to delay her order.

The issue is that Judge Jennifer Ryan-Touhill ruled certain stipulations in the Elections Procedures Manual violate state and federal law, and she barred their enforcement.

In new legal filings, the Attorney General’s Office argues that the judge’s ruling is too broad, and blocks provisions in the manual that weren’t challenged in the initial suit.

The office also argues the ruling was made too close to the November election, and that the office never had a chance to present all the evidence it has to defend against the specific allegations.

The judge has not said when she will consider the issue.