It’s not surprising Republicans such as Sen. Michele Reagan are using fear to promote the ill-conceived HB2305. The so-called Elections Reform Bill is nothing more than a clumsy attempt by fearful extremists to hold on to power.

Senator Reagan claims HB2305 was written with one goal in mind -- being accountable to the voter. Nothing could be further from the truth. This bill is a surreptitious attempt to make major changes to how elections are conducted in Arizona without approval from the voters.

Instead of making voting easier, it makes it more difficult and in some cases even a crime. HB2305 contains an unnecessary provision making it a misdemeanor for volunteers to pick up and return signed and sealed ballots from voters. Its proponents claim this is to protect against voter fraud. According to the Secretary of State’s Office there have been only 15 cases of voter fraud in Arizona since 2008. Most were for people voting twice and none were for tampering with a sealed ballot!

So why was this provision included? The answer is simple. Minorities and the Democratic Party have become more proficient in the use of early voting. This is nothing more than an attempt at voter suppression in order to hold on to power.

Equally onerous is the “strict” rather than “substantial compliance” provision dealing with recalls and initiatives. If HB2305 had been on the books at the time, Russell Pearce would never have been recalled and voter initiatives such as medical marijuana would never have been passed. This severely limits the control voters have over the direction their government.

One of the more troubling aspects of HB2305 deals with the removal of voters from the Permanent Early Voting List if they have not voted in two consecutive election cycles. County Election officials say PEVL voters who show up at the polls on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot cause long delays in the vote counting process. This is absurd logic because it blames delays in counting votes on citizens who dare to exercise their constitutional rights by voting.

The most obvious example of the hypocrisy of HB2305 is the changes it makes in the number of signatures needed on nominating petitions for all candidates. It dramatically increases the number needed by “third party” candidates such as Libertarians while reducing the number required by Republican candidates.

In a rare moment of candor, Republican Representative J.D. Mesnard provided the real reason for HB2305. In a floor speech, Rep. Mesnard admitted the bill was an attempt to keep Libertarians off the ballot! He said Libertarians had siphoned votes from Republicans thus causing them to lose two congressional seats in the 2012 election. It is obvious that Republicans feel limiting voters choice is the only way to retain power.

HB2305 is clearly bad public policy. It is an elections integrity bill that lacks integrity. Its supporters are trying to scare voters by creating a phantom issue. Even Secretary of State Ken Bennett says that voter fraud is not “statistically a large problem in Arizona.” HB2305 is a cynical attempt by the Republican Party to maintain its weakening grip on government in Arizona.