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paper chase...

2019 manual supposedly approved by governor and attorney general...and has force of law..is that true????

2019 Elections Procedures Manual
Official Elections Procedures Manual
The Arizona Elections Procedures Manual helps ensure election practices are consistent and efficient throughout the state. A new law requires the Secretary of State to send a draft of the manual to the governor and attorney general for review by October 1 of every odd-numbered year. The Elections Procedures Manual has the force of law and went into effect upon approval by the attorney general and governor.

https://azsos.gov/elections/about-elections/elections-procedures-manual

arizona revised statutes
16-622. Official canvass; unofficial results

The board of supervisors shall declare elected the person receiving the highest number of votes cast for each office to be filled by the electors of the county or a subdivision thereof, and the clerk of the board shall, unless enjoined from so doing by an order of the court, deliver to each such person, upon compliance with the provisions imposed by law upon candidates for office as conditions precedent to the issuance of such certificates, a certificate of election, signed by the clerk and authenticated with the seal of office of the board of supervisors.

There is nothing in the administrative law that says they have to certify (AZ calls it canvass)by Monday, and if they don't, they are in violation. This is all the law says:

16-648. Canvass for state offices, amendments and measures; postponement

A. On the fourth Monday following a general election, the secretary of state, in the presence of the governor and the attorney general, shall canvass all offices for which the nominees filed nominating petitions and papers with the secretary of state pursuant to section 16-311, subsection E.

B. The secretary of state, in the presence of the governor and the chief justice of the supreme court, shall canvass all proposed constitutional amendments and initiated or referred measures, as shown by the certified copies of official canvass received from the several counties, and forthwith certify the result to the governor.

C. If the official canvass of any county has not been received on the fourth Monday following the general election, the canvass shall be postponed from day to day, not to exceed thirty days from the date of the election, until canvasses from all counties are received.

So, if they didn't certify on Monday they have 30 days.

IIRC there's another chapter missing from your AZ manual story. I don't recall all the details but I believe the GOP had wanted changes of some sort, but Hobbs found a judge to rule there wasn't enough time to institute the GOP changes before this election so the old, Hobbs created, were left in place. Folks from AZ likely recall more details, but if I'm in the ballpark then (1) perhaps the AG and Gov hadn't really signed off on these rules for this election (kind of like countries didn't really sign their certifications, a judge de facto signed for them) and (2) the courts have shown a willingness to alter rules here in the past.