Arizona Elections: A Record-Breaking Day of Voter Intimidation in Maricopa County and Pima County
Murphy Hebert, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that there was a report of voter intimidation in the state.
The voter went to the early voting drop box to drop off their ballot on Monday but was followed by a group of people.
The numbers show that the number of votes in Maricopa County was a record. As a result of the election, more than 285,000 voters dropped their ballot off at a polling location instead of voting in person or mailing it in. The most recent record is 100,000 more than in 2020.
Vote counting centers in Arizona are working full speed ahead on the tabulation of votes to determine key statewide races. The fate of the U.S. Senate is hanging in the balance as both Republicans and Democrats try to gain control of the chamber.
Maricopa County, which has the largest share of voters in the state, faced record breaking day-of ballot drop offs, which is contributing to the long counting process. The officials are denying conspiracy theories that the process is being delayed.
More than 300,000 ballots need to be counted, according to the latest numbers. In Pima County, the second largest county, more than 100,000 ballots are still outstanding.
Arizona voters can get to vote by mail, drop off or in person. On election day, voters have the option to turn in the ballot mailed to them.
According to election officials, state law requires all mail in and drop off ballots to be individually signature verified. A bipartisan board checks the ballot, and is made up of two people. It goes into tabulation once that’s complete.
Arizona Campaigning after the 2020 Primary Election: Bill Gates Rejoinds Maricopa County ”What Happens When I Get My Grandpa”
Arizona was the center of some of the election conspiracy theories to come out of the 2020 election that falsely claimed the election was stolen from Trump. Election deniers who echoed those claims fared well in the GOP primary elections earlier this year. All three Republican candidates at the top of the ticket spread falsehoods about 2020.
“Quite frankly, it is offensive for Kari Lake to say that these people behind me are slow rolling this when they’re working 14 to 18 hours,” said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates. “I really hope that this is the end of that now, we can be patient and respect the results when they come out.”
In 2020, protesters turned out to protest at the Maricopa County vote counting center — leading officials to take extra precautions this year. Gates said that threats have been made against members of the elections board, though few protesters have come by the center.
He said that it is now a way of life for him and his colleagues. It is a way of life and it isn’t for all the election workers.
“I would have them just stop for a second and think about my grandpa. Gates’ grandpa was a World War II veteran who was in Europe. “He was not fighting for their right to pick up a phone or type in a text threatening someone’s life. He was trying to ensure that everyone had the right to vote and pick their own leaders. My grandpa wouldn’t be ok with that.