v. Reagan, 189 F. Supp. 3d 920, 922–23 (D. Ariz. 2016).
The Court does not find that the Arizona state election challenge deadline excuses delay on Plaintiffs’ part in these circumstances. See A.R.S. §16-673. As noted above, the facts underlying the suspected irregularities complained of were either known to Plaintiffs prior to Election Day or soon thereafter. Although Arizona electors may have a deadline by which to file election contests in Arizona state court, Plaintiffs here opted to file their federal constitutional challenges in federal court. The exhibits to the Complaint confirm that the events complained of occurred on or before Election Day. Accordingly, the Court rejects Plaintiffs’ self-serving statement that they did not know the basis for their claims before December 2, 2020. The documents they submit with their Complaint plainly shows the contrary is true, and the delay—which has resulted in a rush by this Court and Defendants to resolve these issues before the Electoral College meeting deadline of December 14, 2020—is unreasonable.
The second part of the laches test—prejudice—is also unquestionably met. First, the prejudice to the Defendants and the nearly 3.4 million Arizonans who voted in the 2020 General Election would be extreme, and entirely unprecedented, if Plaintiff were allowed to have their claims heard at this late date. SW Voter Registration Educ. Project v. Shelley, 344 F.3d 914, 919 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Interference with impending elections is extraordinary, and interference with an election after voting has begun is unprecedented.”). As an Eastern District of Michigan Court stated in a nearly identical case, “[the prejudice] is especially so considering that Plaintiffs’ claims for relief are not merely last-minute—they are after the fact. While Plaintiffs delayed, the ballots were cast; the votes were counted; and the results were certified. The rationale for interposing the doctrine of laches is now at its peak.” King, 2020 WL 7134198, at *7.
Second, the challenges that Plaintiffs assert quite simply could have been made weeks ago, when the Court would have had more time to reflect and resolve the issues. “Unreasonable delay can prejudice the administration of justice by compelling the court to steamroll through… delicate legal issues in order to meet election deadlines.” Arizona
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