Activist Unveils Emails Suggesting County Officials Anticipated 2022 Election Day Failures

By Matthew Holloway |

On Tuesday, Merissa Hamilton of Strong Communities Action-EZAZ.org made explosive allegations regarding Maricopa County election officials and their handling of the 2022 statewide elections. In a series of posts on X, Hamilton claimed that officials were aware of potential printing and supply issues but proceeded without mitigation. She cited emails that indicated communication between the Maricopa County GOP and then-Recorder Stephen Richer, as well as Election Manager Scott Jarrett.

The issue gained national traction after X owner Elon Musk shared Hamilton’s initial post, which read: “Remember in 2022 when nearly 70% of voting centers in Maricopa County failed on Election Day?” Hamilton argued that the county’s election plan was doomed from the start and led to significant voter disenfranchisement, especially impacting candidates Kari Lake and Abraham Hamadeh.

Hamilton’s allegations were supported by emails obtained through The Gavel Project and Arizona election attorney Ryan Heath. She noted that their assistance was crucial in securing the documents. The emails showed concerns being raised weeks ahead of the election, particularly from then-Chairwoman of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, Mickie Niland. Niland referenced past issues with tabulators and sought clarity on the processes for restocking supplies at polling locations.

In response, Jarrett assured Niland that the election administration was prepared, claiming there was sufficient ballot paper, normal paper for printing control slips, and adequate toner. However, Hamilton asserted that GOP leadership had forewarned county officials that their election plan would ultimately fail. Despite these warnings, Jarrett reportedly maintained confidence in the system’s readiness.

Niland’s follow-up emails emphasized growing distrust in the election process. She noted that in-person voting was a significant concern among constituents and declared the communication an official “raising of the flag” regarding potential issues.

An investigation led by former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor later affirmed some of these concerns. It found that many Oki B432 printers struggled to print 20-inch ballots on 100-pound paper effectively, especially under election-day conditions. McGregor pointed out that the combination of heavy paper and lengthy ballots pushed the printers to their limits, often leading to malfunction.

In response to Musk’s post, Hamilton expressed gratitude for the heightened attention to the matter, reiterating claims that Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin had hindered newly elected County Recorder Justin Heap from accessing necessary IT resources for election operations.

Later in the day, Maricopa County addressed these claims in a post on X, outlining a new agreement defining the election responsibilities of both the Board of Supervisors and the Recorder’s Office. Galvin shared this post as part of the county’s efforts to clarify its election management framework moving forward.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.