Former Arizona Secretary of State Takes Charge as Chair of Election Oversight Nonprofit

By Staff Reporter |

Ken Bennett, Arizona’s former secretary of state and a prominent figure in state politics, has been appointed the chair of AUDIT USA. This organization, which stands for Americans United for Democracy, Integrity, and Transparency in Elections, aims to promote public oversight in the electoral process to prevent fraud. Despite being led by Bennett, a Republican, AUDIT USA emphasizes its bipartisan ethos, co-founded by an individual identified as a “progressive Democrat.”

Currently, AUDIT USA is focused on the development of the Auditable Ballot Examination (ABE) system. This innovative audit mechanism operates independently from traditional Election Management Systems, allowing both election officials and voters to validate election results through anonymized digital ballot images. ABE can efficiently sort data by various parameters, including race and precinct, while also identifying overvotes, undervotes, and write-in candidates.

AUDIT USA has rolled out a beta version of ABE to demonstrate its potential functionality. The organization has also partnered with state legislators to advance bipartisan legislation aimed at integrating ABE into existing electoral frameworks. This collaboration has garnered support from Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

“In an era where democracy faces unprecedented challenges, every vote must be verifiable, and every citizen must have access to clear, trustworthy election data,” Bennett remarked in a recent press release.

Secretary Fontes echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism about the proposed audit system’s ability to dispel misconceptions surrounding election integrity. “This tool would get rid of the election fraud nonsense,” Fontes asserted. “Get rid of the lies and the conspiracy theories once and for all.”

Beyond ABE, AUDIT USA aims to develop user-friendly platforms, including email-enabled spreadsheets linked to securely stored, cloud-based ballot images. Enhancing verification systems for more accurate and efficient election result cross-checks is also a priority.

Bennett has a track record of involvement in election oversight, having served as the Arizona Senate liaison during the controversial audit of Maricopa County’s 2020 election results conducted by Cyber Ninjas. His legislative career spans two terms in the state Senate, with his latest tenure beginning in 2023.

In 2023, Bennett championed legislation inspired by ABE, citing the narrow loss of now-Congressman Abe Hamadeh in the attorney general’s race as a reason to enhance transparency. He argued that voters deserved the ability to verify that a mere 280-vote margin accurately reflected voter choices. However, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the relevant bill, claiming it would compromise voter anonymity and contribute to misinformation.

John Brakey, co-founder of AUDIT USA and former deputy liaison under Bennett during the 2021 election audit, currently serves as the organization’s director. The leadership team also includes secretary and treasurer Arlene Leaf, along with board members Bill Risner, Bennie Smith, Lynn Bernstein, and Susan Pynchon.