Arizona’s Election Day Results Facing Unprecedented Delays

Maricopa County is bracing for a delay in reporting election results due to a newly enacted state law. This change could raise tensions as the nation awaits critical outcomes in the presidential race.

Under the law passed in February, poll workers must first tally the number of mail ballot envelopes dropped off at polling places before sending results to the central counting facility. This initial count delays the actual counting of the votes, which occurs after signature verification on the envelopes.

Historically, busy polling locations have seen over 1,500 mail ballots dropped off on Election Day. Accordingly, Maricopa County, a closely watched swing county in Arizona’s later time zone, has not provided estimates for when the returns will be available.

“It’s challenging to predict a timeline,” said Jennifer Liewer, a spokesperson for county elections. “The new envelope counting requirement creates significant uncertainty.” Results from the previous primary election were not reported until well after 10 p.m., which suggests a repeat of the late timelines.

Several factors could contribute to the lengthy reporting process this election. Lines are anticipated to extend well past the 7 p.m. closing time due to both the size of the ballot and the number of voters in line at closing time. Additionally, poll workers must wait until all voters have cast their ballots before starting to count dropped-off mail envelopes.

Although Republicans typically push for quicker reporting of results, they advocated for the new counting requirement to ensure transparency regarding the number of mail ballots collected at each site. This measure was included in broader legislation designed to streamline Arizona’s election processes, signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.

State Representative Alex Kolodin, who supported the requirement, remarked on its necessity despite the delay, asserting that it will enhance election transparency and security. Nonetheless, skepticism remains among voters who experienced long waits for results in previous elections, particularly in November 2020, during which supporters of then-President Donald Trump expressed concerns about the integrity of the process.

The timeline for media outlets to declare winners in races may also be extended, especially as many voters—approximately 290,000 in the last election—wait until Election Day to drop off mail ballots. These ballots aren’t counted until signature verification occurs in the following days.

Historically, results from early voting are the first to be reported, often at 8 p.m. on election night. Following this, results from Election Day in-person voting come in, as ballots cast are tabulated in real-time at polling locations.

The new law has also altered the signature verification process. Previously allowing five business days for voters to rectify signature issues, the law now permits five calendar days, potentially expediting the counting process.

Maricopa County has recruited additional staff to assist with this increased workload, aiming to improve the efficiency seen in the recent primary election, where results were finalized more quickly than in past years. However, the county expects a rise in last-minute ballot drop-offs this election cycle.

If trends from earlier elections hold, voters could anticipate a ten to twelve-day window for all ballots to be counted. Officials predict that races should be called sooner unless the margins are exceedingly narrow, warranting an automatic recount. Certification of the final statewide results is slated for November 25.

Jen Fifield reports for Votebeat in Arizona. Contact her at [email protected].