PHOENIX (AP) - Two supervisors from Cochise County, Arizona, have been indicted on criminal charges related to their delay in canvassing the 2022 general election results, announced the state's attorney general on Wednesday.

Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby, both Cochise County supervisors, have been charged with conspiracy and interference of an election officer, according to a grand jury indictment in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, expressed her concern over attempts to undermine democracy and emphasized her commitment to upholding the rule of law. She stated, "My office will continue to enforce Arizona's elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices."

Dennis Wilenchik, attorney for Tom Crosby, dismissed the indictment as "nothing but political partisanship" and vowed a strong defense against what he called baseless charges. He claimed that the alleged conspiracy and interference were nonexistent and referred to the interference charge as "nonsensical."

On the other hand, Peggy Judd did not respond to requests for comment.

Jane Montgomery, spokesperson for Cochise County, declined to comment on the matter and confirmed that both supervisors will be responsible for their own legal representation.

The indictment is a significant development as it marks a rare instance of criminal prosecution in connection to the prolonged vote canvassing process in six Arizona counties last year.

In December 2022, Cochise County faced a legal challenge as Crosby and Judd, both Republicans, refused to sign off on the vote count by the deadline. A judge ruled that their actions were in violation of the law, and only after the court's order did they certify the election results.

Crosby and Judd had expressed concerns regarding the certification of the election results, citing issues with the certification of the ballot tabulation machines. Their stance led to lawsuits, including one filed by then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat.

At the recent court proceedings, both supervisors were subpoenaed. Judd and Crosby expressed surprise and confusion at the reason for their subpoenas.

While the lone Democrat on the three-member board, Ann English, was not indicted or subpoenaed, she joined Judd in voting to certify the election results after the judge's order. Crosby did not attend the meeting where certification took place.

The delayed certification of election results in Arizona raised concerns about partisan interference in the orderly counting and certification of votes. In the end, Democrats emerged victorious in U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, and other statewide races, making Arizona a swing state.

Arizona has become a focal point for election conspiracies since President Joe Biden's historic win in the state in 2020. There is growing apprehension that partisan election officials may interfere with the upcoming presidential election, which is expected to be a rematch of the highly contentious 2020 contest.

This article was written with contributions from Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper.