FACT CHECK: Did Maricopa County Recorder Really Defend Arizona Against Extreme Left Election Policies?

By Merissa Hamilton |

The notion that actions speak louder than words has never been more relevant than in the actions of our elected officials. The scrutiny is now on the current Maricopa County Recorder, Stephen Richer, who has been embroiled in controversy over his stance on voter registration and ID laws.

Recently, voters received texts portraying Vice President Kamala Harris as the “presumptive Democrat nominee” and criticizing her “radical” election policies such as same-day voter registration and lack of voter ID. These messages claimed that Richer would act to safeguard against such policies.

However, when given the opportunity to enact legal protections, the Maricopa County Recorder’s actions have been inconsistent. In 2022, a bill, HB2237, was introduced by State Representative Jake Hoffman to make same-day voter registration illegal. The bill aimed to prevent Election Day chaos and ensure the legitimacy of voter registrations.

The bill faced opposition from left-leaning groups who support same-day voter registration, causing complications for election workers. Issues were highlighted when hundreds of Arizonans faced registration problems ahead of a primary election due to incomplete forms, as reported by Jen Fifield of Vote Beat.

Despite the chaos, the Maricopa County Recorder and affiliated entities neither supported nor opposed HB2237. This lack of position raised questions about the commitment to election security.

The situation worsened with voter ID policies. Proposition 309 sought to introduce voter ID requirements for early ballots. Public records indicate the Recorder’s Office previously supported such measures. Yet, when it mattered, the Arizona Association of Counties opposed it, and the Recorder’s Office remained silent.

The Recorder then actively opposed the proposition using government resources, contradicting his earlier stance on election security.

Past interactions with Richer suggested he believed in the necessity of voter ID to secure early ballots. Public disagreements on social media further highlighted these inconsistencies, with accusations of changing positions on signature verification and voter rolls.

Following Proposition 309’s failure by a narrow margin, the Recorder’s public opposition has since been erased from the internet. Yet, recent text messages claim he’s now defending voter ID as part of his re-election campaign.

Richer’s track record shows a concerning silence and lack of advocacy on key election security measures. His opponent, Rep. Justin Heap, claims he hasn’t seen Richer engage in legislative efforts to combat radical policies.

Maricopa County voters demand robust action from their recorders to ensure election security and integrity, a need that appears unmet by the current administration.

Merissa Hamilton is the founder and chairwoman of the nonpartisan nonprofit organizations Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona and Strong Communities Action, also known as EZAZ.org. She is dedicated to making civic education and action accessible. Hamilton is an elected Member at Large of Congressional District 1 for the Arizona Republican Party and previously ran for Mayor. She currently serves as the Director of Integration and Policy at The R.O.A.R. PAC.