Arizona sheriff steps up security around ballot drop boxes

PHOENIX — The sheriff in metropolitan Phoenix said Monday he’s stepped up security around ballot drop boxes after a series of incidents involving people keeping watch on the boxes and taking video of voters after they were apparently inspired by lies about the 2020 election. They claimed they were taking pictures for ‘election security’ and I took pictures of them to report them to the DOJ for voter intimation and harassments.” Asked at an unrelated event Monday whether he was concerned about reported intimidation in states like Arizona, and if the Justice Department would get involved, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the department has an obligation to “guarantee a free, fair vote by everyone who is qualified to vote, and will not permit voters to be intimidated.” A group of drop box watchers seen filming a drop box in Maricopa County last week told a local reporter they were with Clean Elections USA, a group that is gathering teams to watch drop boxes in several states this midterm season. There’s no evidence for the notion that a network of Democrat-associated ballot “mules” has conspired to collect and deliver ballots to drop boxes, despite claims made in a film about the 2020 election. Arizona state Sen. Kelly Townsend, who earlier this year praised and encouraged “all you vigilantes that want to camp out at these drop boxes,” wrote on Twitter Monday that wearing tactical gear while watching drop boxes “could be considered voter intimidation.” “Don’t do it,” Townsend wrote.