All Eyes on Maricopa County: A High-Stakes Election Day Unfolds

In a final press conference ahead of Election Day, Maricopa County officials underscored the significance of relying on trusted sources for information and urged voters to exercise patience as the county braces for an intense electoral event.

“Expect long lines on Election Day,” warned Assistant County Manager Zach Shira. “This is typical for a presidential election.”

The county anticipates delays primarily due to this year’s two-page ballot, the first of its kind since 2006. Voters will face an average of 79 races on their ballots, leading to over 13,000 distinct ballot styles due to varying local races, propositions, and bond issues.

Long lines and challenges in releasing timely election results have fed into conspiracy theories aimed at undermining the electoral process. With rising voter turnout in Arizona, Maricopa County has found itself at the center of national attention and scrutiny.

The county has come under fire from misinformation campaigns, particularly concerning election fraud theories perpetuated by some high-profile candidates. Maricopa County spokesman Fields Moseley reported that over 650 press credentials have been issued to media outlets for coverage of the elections.

The press conference highlighted numbers and strategies surrounding the election process, addressing misinformation spread by conspiracy theorists and foreign disinformation sources. “We will not be playing Whac-a-Mole,” Shira stated regarding their approach to tackling false claims, emphasizing that the focus will remain on issues affecting voter access.

Recent signs of misinformation include a video labeled as Russian propaganda, in which false claims were made by an individual purportedly leaking information from within the Secretary of State’s Office. Additionally, rumors are swirling about a supposed glitch affecting around 218,000 voters’ records.

Sheriff Russ Skinner noted his department is on “high alert” for any threats directed at election officials and workers. He reiterated a strict “zero tolerance” policy for any criminal activities that may disrupt the electoral process.

The county officials also addressed doubt sown by elected figures. “We ask them to accept these results and move on,” urged Supervisor Bill Gates, referencing candidates like Kari Lake and Abe Hamadeh, who have yet to concede past election results.

Election results are expected to be released starting Tuesday evening, with many contests potentially remaining uncalled until Wednesday due to the counting of late-arriving ballots. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer affirmed the volume of mail-in ballots has increased significantly, doubling the workload for election staff.

On the last day for voter registration, more than 90,000 new registrants flooded in, some delivered in plastic bags, raising concerns about the legitimacy of these registrations. Some forms are reportedly linked to a group currently under investigation in Pennsylvania.

Investigations target irregular signatures tied to Field Media Corps, a group led by Mesa Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, which has faced legal complaints both in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Richer has previously cautioned against the group and has coordinated with prosecutors to address ongoing concerns.

The office is committed to robust signature verification to maintain electoral integrity, having recently enlisted additional staff to manage the increased workload. Currently, nearly 1.2 million ballots have already been processed and sent for tabulation.

When initial election results are shared around 8 p.m. on election night, approximately 55% of the expected ballots will have been counted. These initial tallies will evolve as results from polling stations are uploaded and additional mail-in ballots continue to be processed.

“Despite previous allegations, we will continuously tabulate votes,” Shira asserted, pushing back against unfounded claims of vote manipulation that surfaced during the 2020 elections. To combat misinformation, the county plans to launch a blog detailing vote counts and the electoral process.

Officials urged the public to access verified sources for election information, emphasizing the need for vigilance against misinformation. “We ask for people’s patience,” Gates concluded. “Accuracy will always take precedence over speed.”

Maricopa County anticipates daily press updates as ballot counting progresses and results begin to unfold.