Cochise County Confirms Election Results Amidst Shocking 60% Ballot Audit Shortfall

By Staff Reporter |

Cochise County has officially approved the election results, despite an audit revealing that nearly 60 percent of necessary ballots were not counted correctly. The Cochise County Board of Supervisors convened a brief special meeting on Wednesday to accept and certify the election canvass.

During the meeting, election director Marisol Renteria presented the canvass along with Joe Casey. Both officials clarified that although the hand count totals were incorrect, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre had authorized the certification of the election.

“On November 19, an incorrect calculation regarding early voter hand counts was noted. However, after communicating with the Secretary of State and the county attorney, we agreed to proceed with certifying the election,” stated Casey.

Casey indicated that the discrepancies identified in the hand count audit fell within the “acceptable margin of error.” The Secretary of State’s office confirmed that Cochise County’s hand count audit was completed with discrepancies noted as being acceptable.

All supervisors present chose not to question the audit’s undercount, leading to a meeting that lasted only seven minutes. The issues surrounding the audit were first reported by My Herald Review.

Hand count audits are critical for verifying the accuracy of machine ballot counts. Renteria’s report highlighted that only 200 ballots were audited, falling short of the nearly 500 required by state law, which stipulates that one percent of early ballots should be audited based on the total number of ballots cast.

Casey also addressed other significant issues faced during the election, including extensive wait times at voting centers, a bomb threat at one location, and a five-hour power outage on November 13. “The election came with its set of challenges and incidents,” he acknowledged.

Supervisor Peggy Judd, who proposed the motion to accept the results, expressed gratitude toward the elections staff, stating they were not at fault for the mishaps, including the audit undercount. “No one can be blamed; it was simply an unforeseen issue,” Judd remarked.

It is worth noting that Judd, along with Supervisor Tom Crosby, had faced felony-level charges related to election interference due to delays in certifying the 2022 election results. Judd recently pleaded guilty to election interference and accepted a plea deal, resulting in misdemeanor charges, probation, and a fine.

Supervisor Ann English praised the election staff for effectively addressing the challenges this election cycle. “This time, we managed to run an efficient and effective election,” she stated.

Cochise County had a voter registration of 82,200, resulting in a voter turnout rate of 72 percent, showcasing nearly 60,000 ballots cast in the election.

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