PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A former Arizona lawmaker agreed on Monday to a plea deal over forging signatures for last year’s reelection campaign .

Prosecutors said 30-year-old Austin Smith pleaded guilty to attempted fraudulent schemes and practices and illegal signing of election petitions.

The Republican from Surprise admitted to signing the name of a dead woman on one of his candidate nomination petitions in March 2024 and also admitted that he knew his petitions contained forged signatures of supporters for the 2024 Republican primary.

“Forging signatures, including those of people who have died, in order to get yourself on the ballot is illegal, and it erodes trust in our elections,” Arizona Attorney General Mayes said in an emailed statement.

Accusations of forging signatures arose i

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