Maricopa County leaders keep pushing back against election denialism in Arizona
2 years, 4 months ago

Maricopa County leaders keep pushing back against election denialism in Arizona

NPR  

Maricopa County leaders keep pushing back against election denialism in Arizona Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images For the last two years, Arizona has been a hive of election denialism. State Senate Republicans spearheaded a deeply flawed review of the 2020 vote in Arizona's largest county, keeping Maricopa County in the spotlight for months. Sponsor Message "For all the noise that has been made regarding election administration, from the user's perspective it's going to look very similar to the 2020 experience," said Stephen Richer, a Republican who is the Maricopa County recorder. While there was legislation to get rid of the state's popular ballot-by-mail system, there were enough Republicans, like Richer and Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates, lobbying to stop them from becoming law.

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History of this topic

Maricopa County voters’ long ballot could lead to delays
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Maricopa County voters’ long ballot could lead to delays

NPR  

Maricopa County voters’ long ballot could lead to delays It has been nearly two decades since Arizona voters have received ballots as long as the ones being turned in this election cycle. In Maricopa County, voters have had to sift through a two-page, front and back ballot with a wide range of issues. Moving down the ballot, voters are also …

GPS tracking and public tours: The extreme measures underway to prove elections are safe
1 month, 3 weeks ago

GPS tracking and public tours: The extreme measures underway to prove elections are safe

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The best way to create trust in our …

Counting Votes in a Swing County: A Detailed Look at Maricopa County, Arizona
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Counting Votes in a Swing County: A Detailed Look at Maricopa County, Arizona

Associated Press  

The article discusses the challenges of election tabulation in Maricopa County, Arizona, due to its large population and political divide. Election officials anticipate a drawn-out count, which has fueled conspiracy theories surrounding the 2024 presidential election. The county's high number of voters and close political races pose significant challenges to the tabulation process.

Swing County Showdown: Why It Could Decide the 2024 Presidential Election
Trending News
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Swing County Showdown: Why It Could Decide the 2024 Presidential Election

Associated Press  

Maricopa County, Arizona, has become the nation's ultimate swing county due to its close political divide. The county's sprawling size and population make it a key battleground in the presidential election. Increased migration from Mexico in the 1990s and the 2010 law allowing local police to stop people they suspect of being in the country illegally have played a significant …

'Too late': Arizona court rules voting access law put in place last year can be ignored
1 month, 3 weeks ago

'Too late': Arizona court rules voting access law put in place last year can be ignored

Raw Story  

The Republican-stacked Supreme Court of Arizona has shot down an attempt by Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to ensure an easier voting process in Pinal County, reported Votebeat Arizona on Tuesday. The opinion, written by Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer, found that forcing Pinal County officials to change their process to comply with Fontes' rule would cause “unacceptable risk …

Maricopa County’s 2-page ballots could make for long lines on Election Day
3 months, 1 week ago

Maricopa County’s 2-page ballots could make for long lines on Election Day

Associated Press  

Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election. PHOENIX — Arizona election officials are warning there could be delays at polling places and vote-counting machines could jam as voters fill out a multipage ballot, an unusual occurrence in the presidential battleground state. Maricopa County’s switch to a multipage ballot, the first time since 2006, has prompted election officials …

Arizona county canvass starts recount process in tight Democratic primary in US House race
4 months, 1 week ago

Arizona county canvass starts recount process in tight Democratic primary in US House race

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s most populous county certified its primary election results Monday, setting in motion a recount for the Democratic nomination in an open congressional district where 42 votes separate the top contenders. This year, the certification of primary election results largely has gone smoothly across Arizona, with the majority of the state’s 15 counties approving the results without issue. …

In Arizona, schools are now targets of election misinformation, spurring fears of violence
4 months, 2 weeks ago

In Arizona, schools are now targets of election misinformation, spurring fears of violence

Salon  

Arizona’s largest public school district is refusing to open its schools as polling sites amid threats against workers and a steady stream of misinformation from right-wing activists in the state. Misinformation pushed by former President Donald Trump and Senate candidate Kari Lake has led to protests outside voting centers, harassment of election workers and a wealth of distrust among voters, …

Democratic primary in Arizona’s 3rd District still close, could be headed for recount
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Democratic primary in Arizona’s 3rd District still close, could be headed for recount

Associated Press  

Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election. PHOENIX — The Democratic primary in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District still remains too close to call and could be headed for a recount. Former Phoenix City Council member Yassamin Ansari led former state lawmaker Raquel Terán by 67 votes with nearly 44,000 ballots counted as of Saturday evening. Maricopa County …

GOP primary voters in Arizona’s largest county oust election official who endured years of attacks
4 months, 3 weeks ago

GOP primary voters in Arizona’s largest county oust election official who endured years of attacks

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer has fought back against death threats, almost constant harassment and streams of misinformation during his nearly four years overseeing elections in one of the nation’s most prominent political battlegrounds. In one case, the day after Richer spoke during a chaotic public meeting when county officials certified the November 2022 election results, he received …

Stephen Richer, a Republican who actually defended election integrity in Arizona, loses primary race
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Stephen Richer, a Republican who actually defended election integrity in Arizona, loses primary race

Salon  

A GOP official known for his persistent defense of free and fair elections lost his primary election in Arizona on Tuesday, NBC News reported. Incumbent Stephen Richer lost his re-election bid for Maricopa County recorder to State Rep. Justin Heap, a right-wing challenger who called Maricopa County elections a “laughing stock,” according to the Arizona Mirror. When asked how confident …

Arizona's Maricopa County prepares to be in the election spotlight once again
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Arizona's Maricopa County prepares to be in the election spotlight once again

NPR  

Arizona's Maricopa County prepares to be in the election spotlight once again toggle caption Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images PHOENIX — Maricopa County in Arizona — home to nearly 60% of the voting population in the swing state — will once again be in the spotlight come this fall’s general election. toggle caption Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images …

Election certification disputes in handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Election certification disputes in handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest

LA Times  

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, two Republican members of a county canvassing board last month refused to sign off on the results of an election that led to the recall of three GOP members of the county commission. In Georgia’s Fulton County, which includes the Democratic-leaning city of Atlanta, a group run by members of former President Trump’s administration last month …

Election certification disputes in a handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Election certification disputes in a handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest

Associated Press  

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, two Republican members of a county canvassing board last month refused to sign off on the results of an election that led to the recall of three GOP members of the county commission. In Georgia’s Fulton County, which includes the Democratic-voting city of Atlanta, a group run by members of former President Donald Trump’s administration last …

Arizona expects to be back at the center of election attacks. Its top officials are going on offense
9 months ago

Arizona expects to be back at the center of election attacks. Its top officials are going on offense

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The security measures are a …

Arizona expects to be back at the center of election attacks. Its top officials are going on offense
9 months ago

Arizona expects to be back at the center of election attacks. Its top officials are going on offense

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The room sits behind a chain-link fence, then black iron gates. “What would be even more of a shame is if we couldn’t look the workers in the eye and say, ‘We’re doing everything possible to make sure that you’re safe,’” he said. Arizona’s top election officials are taking an aggressive approach to combating disinformation and responding to …

Two county officials in Arizona plead not guilty to charges for delaying 2022 election certification
1 year ago

Two county officials in Arizona plead not guilty to charges for delaying 2022 election certification

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Two officials from a rural Arizona county pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony charges for delaying the certification of their county’s 2022 midterm election results. But they said they weren’t satisfied that the machines used to tabulate ballots were properly certified for use in elections, though state and federal election officials said they were. During brief arraignment hearings …

Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 years
1 year, 4 months ago

Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 years

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A …

Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 years
1 year, 4 months ago

Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 years

Associated Press  

LUBBOCK, Texas — A Texas man who advocated for a mass shooting of poll workers and threatened two Arizona officials and their children has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison, prosecutors said Friday. Prosecutors say court documents showed that Goltz threatened several people — including a lawyer with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and a Maricopa County …

Elections director of Arizona county quits, says she wasn’t protected from political attacks
1 year, 5 months ago

Elections director of Arizona county quits, says she wasn’t protected from political attacks

Associated Press  

FLORENCE, Ariz. — The elections director of Arizona’s Pinal County has resigned after less than a year in the job, saying county supervisors had tried to politicize elections in the jurisdiction east of Phoenix. Pinal County confirmed Geraldine Roll’s resignation in a brief note posted online Tuesday, with County Manager Leo Lew thanking Roll for her service “during very challenging …

Arizona county’s new elections head shared voter fraud memes
1 year, 7 months ago

Arizona county’s new elections head shared voter fraud memes

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A rural Arizona county where leaders have embraced voting machine conspiracies on Tuesday hired an elections director who has promoted the false claims that voter fraud cost former President Donald Trump reelection in 2020. The two Republicans on the three-member Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted to hire Bob Bartelsmeyer, who shared memes on his personal Facebook page …

Arizona county board votes to give recorder election duties
1 year, 9 months ago

Arizona county board votes to give recorder election duties

Associated Press  

BISBEE, Ariz. — A rural Arizona county board that was embroiled last year in voting machine conspiracies voted Tuesday to give responsibility for elections through 2024 to the county’s elected Republican recorder, a move the state attorney general’s office suggested may be illegal. The two Republicans on the three-member Cochise County Board of Supervisors backed the agreement giving administrative election …

Republican Former Arizona AG Sat On Records Refuting Trump Election Fraud Claims
1 year, 10 months ago

Republican Former Arizona AG Sat On Records Refuting Trump Election Fraud Claims

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING PHOENIX — Arizona’s former attorney general suppressed findings by his investigators who concluded there was no basis for allegations that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud, according to documents released Wednesday by his successor. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, who took office last month, said the records show the 2020 election “was conducted fairly and …

Former Arizona AG sat on records refuting 2020 election fraud
1 year, 10 months ago

Former Arizona AG sat on records refuting 2020 election fraud

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s former attorney general suppressed findings by his investigators who concluded there was no basis for allegations that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud, according to documents released Wednesday by his successor. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, who took office last month, said the records show the 2020 election “was conducted fairly and accurately by election …

Republican losses fan election conspiracies in rural Arizona
1 year, 10 months ago

Republican losses fan election conspiracies in rural Arizona

Associated Press  

BISBEE, Ariz. — James Knox was glad to get out of the big city. Stevens was prepared to oversee Cochise County’s hand count when Marra objected last year, and only stopped once a judge ruled that it violated state law. “Recorder Stevens has proven he’s part of the crazy conspiracy crowd,” said Jennifer Druckman, a retiree who was one of …

Lawsuit is latest evidence of bogus ‘stolen election’ claims
1 year, 10 months ago

Lawsuit is latest evidence of bogus ‘stolen election’ claims

Associated Press  

Two years after former President Donald Trump’s false claims about widespread election fraud sparked an attack on the U.S. Capitol, more evidence is piling up that those who spread the misinformation knew it was false. The latest revelation that people spreading Trump’s false claims knew there was no evidence to support them comes from a court filing in a defamation …

“Hyper-partisan attack”: Arizona GOP advances new voting bills inspired by conspiracy theories
1 year, 10 months ago

“Hyper-partisan attack”: Arizona GOP advances new voting bills inspired by conspiracy theories

Salon  

Arizona's Republican-controlled state legislature advanced bills last month that they claim will improve election transparency — but voting rights advocates worry will actually have the opposite effect. "There's a lack of confidence from some of my constituents in the election itself," Republican state Rep. Rachel Jones of Tucson, who presented the bill, said during the committee meeting. "These are the …

Arizona recount uncovers several ballot-counting errors in Pinal County
1 year, 11 months ago

Arizona recount uncovers several ballot-counting errors in Pinal County

Raw Story  

The final recount results released Thursday in the Arizona attorney general’s race — which shrank to a razor-thin margin of 280 votes and confirmed Democrat Kris Mayes’ victory — show that ballot-counting errors in Pinal County were largely responsible for the shift. As in Pinal, all were human errors, though both represented less extensive failures of election administration than the …

All votes counted in Maricopa County, despite online claims
54 years, 11 months ago

All votes counted in Maricopa County, despite online claims

Associated Press  

CLAIM: Uncounted ballots that got mixed with counted ballots at voting sites in Arizona’s Maricopa County were not included in the final midterm election results. While such ballots were mixed at two separate voting centers on Election Day, they were properly vetted and accurately tabulated, according to Megan Gilbertson, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Elections Department. Poll workers advised …

Arizona certifies 2022 election despite GOP complaints
2 years ago

Arizona certifies 2022 election despite GOP complaints

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s top officials certified the midterm election results Monday, formalizing victories for Democrats over Republicans who falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged. “Arizona had a successful election,” Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who beat Lake in the race for governor, said before signing the certification. The race for attorney general was one of the closest …

Arizona county certifies election after judge’s order
2 years ago

Arizona county certifies election after judge’s order

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A rural Arizona county certified its midterm election results on Thursday, following the orders of a judge who ruled that Republican supervisors broke the law when they refused to sign off on the vote count by this week’s deadline. Two Republicans on Cochise County’s three-member board of supervisors balked for weeks about certifying the election, even as the …

Arizona's Cochise County finally certifies its election results after a court order
2 years ago

Arizona's Cochise County finally certifies its election results after a court order

NPR  

Arizona's Cochise County finally certifies its election results after a court order Enlarge this image toggle caption Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images Under a court order, officials in Republican-controlled Cochise County, Ariz., finally certified their local midterm elections results after they missed the state's legal deadline and put more than 47,000 people's votes at risk. …

In Arizona, losing candidate points to perceived conflict
2 years ago

In Arizona, losing candidate points to perceived conflict

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Republican Kari Lake and supporters of her failed campaign for Arizona governor are attacking Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs as having a conflict of interest for overseeing the election she won. Hobbs’ spokeswoman, Sophia Solis, emphasized that the secretary of state does not handle ballots or play a direct role in vote tabulation, and said that neither …

Election certification delays few, but a ‘test run’ for 2024
2 years ago

Election certification delays few, but a ‘test run’ for 2024

Associated Press  

Before November, election officials prepared for the possibility that Republicans who embraced former President Donald Trump’s lies about voter fraud would challenge the verdict of voters by refusing to certify the midterm results. “It’s a good test run for 2024, showing state courts they’re going to have to step in.” For now, the certification delay in a smattering of rural …

GOP-controlled Arizona county refuses to certify election
2 years ago

GOP-controlled Arizona county refuses to certify election

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Republican officials in a rural Arizona county refused Monday to certify the 2022 election despite no evidence of anything wrong with the count, a decision that was quickly challenged in court by the state’s top election official. Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who narrowly won the race for governor, asked a judge to order county officials …

Lake seeks election records in suit against Arizona county
2 years ago

Lake seeks election records in suit against Arizona county

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Kari Lake, the defeated Republican candidate for Arizona governor, has filed a public records lawsuit demanding Maricopa County hand over a variety of documents related to the election. Lake has refused to acknowledge that she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs and has for weeks drawn attention to voters who said they experienced long lines and other difficulties while …

2nd Arizona county delays certifying election, for now
2 years, 1 month ago

2nd Arizona county delays certifying election, for now

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A second Republican-controlled Arizona county on Monday delayed certifying the results of this month’s election as a protest against voting issues in Maricopa County that some GOP officials have blamed for their losses in top races including the contest for governor. The delay came as Maricopa, the state’s most populous county, finished counting the last remaining ballots and …

Arizona county board delays certifying election results
2 years, 1 month ago

Arizona county board delays certifying election results

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The board overseeing a southeastern Arizona county whose Republican leaders had hoped to recount all Election Day ballots on Friday delayed certifying the results of last week’s vote after hearing from a trio of conspiracy theorists who alleged that counting machines were not certified. The three men, or some combination of them, have filed at least four cases …

Arizona county quick to bat down election misinformation
2 years, 1 month ago

Arizona county quick to bat down election misinformation

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — When the Republican candidate for Arizona governor accused the state’s most populous county of “slow-rolling” the vote count to skew early election results, a local official fired back. He called the allegations “irrelevant” and an “incredible distraction.” A record 290,000 of those ballots were dropped off at the county’s 223 vote centers on Election Day and are now …

In Arizona, election fraud conspiracy theories rage on as the vote count continues
2 years, 1 month ago

In Arizona, election fraud conspiracy theories rage on as the vote count continues

LA Times  

Republican Kari Lake could still catch up to Democrat Katie Hobbs in Arizona’s contentious race for governor. Darn it, we’ve got to start bringing this up.” Election officials in Arizona, particularly in Maricopa County, have been working overtime to combat criticism, misinformation and insinuations of malfeasance as they work through hundreds of thousands of mailed ballots returned on election day. …

Mark Kelly: Time to let go of "conspiracies of the past"
2 years, 1 month ago

Mark Kelly: Time to let go of "conspiracies of the past"

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Democratic …

Democrat wins Arizona elections post over GOP conspiracist
2 years, 1 month ago

Democrat wins Arizona elections post over GOP conspiracist

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Democrat Adrian Fontes won the top elections post in Arizona on Friday, defeating a Republican rival who attended the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol and who said he would not have certified Joe Biden’s win in the state. Fontes, who formerly oversaw parts of the election system in Arizona’s most populous …

Arizona voting issues not confined to conservative areas
54 years, 11 months ago

Arizona voting issues not confined to conservative areas

Associated Press  

CLAIM: Only voting sites in conservative areas in Arizona’s Maricopa County experienced issues with tabulating ballots on Election Day. Voting centers across Maricopa County reported printing issues that stopped some ballots from being counted onsite, including in Democrat-leaning areas, like downtown Phoenix and Tempe, according to the Maricopa County Elections Department. THE FACTS: As voting sites across Maricopa County reported …

Dems maintain narrow leads in Arizona Senate, governor races
2 years, 1 month ago

Dems maintain narrow leads in Arizona Senate, governor races

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Democrats maintained their narrow leads in key Arizona contests on Thursday, but the races for U.S. Senate and governor were still too early to call with about a fifth of the total ballots left to be counted. Election officials in Maricopa County, which includes metro Phoenix and more than 60% of voters, expected to begin reporting results Friday …

How Maricopa County defeated election disinformation — for now
2 years, 1 month ago

How Maricopa County defeated election disinformation — for now

NPR  

How Maricopa County defeated election disinformation — for now Enlarge this image toggle caption Ross D. Franklin/AP Ross D. Franklin/AP PHOENIX — Maricopa County Chairman Bill Gates is the first to tell you he's in a bizarre position. "The reason that it takes several days to have all of the votes counted here is due in part to the mail-in …

Arizona Republicans Baselessly Claim Vote Counting Process Is Sign Of Corruption
2 years, 1 month ago

Arizona Republicans Baselessly Claim Vote Counting Process Is Sign Of Corruption

Huff Post  

Kari Lake, Arizona Republican candidate for governor, speaks to the media after voting on Election Day with son Leo, second from right, and daughter Ruby, right, in Phoenix. Officials announced the likely timeline before Election Day: “We know everyone would like results faster,” Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer told The Washington Post in a report published Monday. “They always intentionally …

Democrats Pad Narrow Leads In Arizona Senate, Governor Races
2 years, 1 month ago

Democrats Pad Narrow Leads In Arizona Senate, Governor Races

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING PHOENIX — Democrats padded their narrow leads in key Arizona contests on Thursday, but the races for U.S. Senate and attorney general were still too early to call with about a fifth of the total ballots left to be counted. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly led Republican Blake Masters by 5.6 percentage points, while Democrat Katie Hobbs had …

Post-election misinformation targets Arizona, Pennsylvania
2 years, 1 month ago

Post-election misinformation targets Arizona, Pennsylvania

Associated Press  

The video on Fox News showed a Wisconsin poll worker initialing ballots before they were given to voters. “Spread to normies.” It’s an example of Election Day misinformation that reveals how misleading claims emerge and travel, and how innocent events can be spun into the latest viral election hoax. Maricopa County remained the epicenter of election misinformation Wednesday after problems …

Why some races in Arizona still haven’t been called
2 years, 1 month ago

Why some races in Arizona still haven’t been called

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of thousands of votes were still being tallied Wednesday in Arizona, where contested races including Senate and gubernatorial races remained uncalled. Here’s what we know: MARICOPA MATH Part of it is because of all of the ballots that got dropped off on Election Day in Arizona’s biggest county. Officials in Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous and home …

Snag delays Arizona ballots; officials say all to be counted
2 years, 1 month ago

Snag delays Arizona ballots; officials say all to be counted

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Election officials assured voters that every ballot would be counted after a printing malfunction at about one-quarter of the polling places across Arizona’s most populous county slowed down voting. The snag on Tuesday fueled conspiracy theories about the integrity of the vote in the tightly contested state as former President Donald Trump, GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and …

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