Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

The Republic | azcentral.com

Early election results allowed media outlets to call the race in favor of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

Thousands of voters waited in lines, even though the race had already been called

Attorney General Mark Brnovich wants to prohibit county and state elections officials from releasing voting results until all people have cast their ballots.

His proposal comes in the wake of Tuesday's election, which saw thousands still in line to vote as the races were called for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

In a statement Tuesday, Brnovich said he plans to work with the state Legislature to change the law to ensure voters cast their ballots "in a fair and neutral environment."

The Associated Press declared Clinton and Trump winners less than 30 minutes after early-balloting results were released by elections officials and as voters across Maricopa County still waited to cast their ballots on a day marked by hours-long lines, confusion and fewer polling sites than in prior years.

Were Brnovich's ban in place Tuesday, presidential preference election results would not have been released until early Wednesday.

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Brnovich and others say releasing results early can discourage people from voting.

Many voters complained the races were called with people still waiting to vote: "How can they say this when I just drove by and saw the Beatitudes has a line of at least 3 hours wrapping around its buildings," Phoenix voter Amy Ball wrote in a Facebook post.

Brnovich stated, "While I understand the public anticipation and demand for the results, it is problematic if early election returns and projections of winners are broadcast while voters are still in lines at the polls."

Follow the reporter on Twitter @yvonnewingett and reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4712.