Maricopa County Sets Speed Record in Certifying Election Results After Swift Ballot Counting

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors officially certified the results of the general election, setting the stage for the commencement of recounts. In what has been deemed a significant achievement, election officials reported that the county effectively managed to tally an unprecedented number of ballots in a condensed timeframe.

In just 10 days, officials processed 2,078,460 two-page ballots, nearly doubling their usual workload. This count marks the second-highest total in county history, only surpassed by the 2020 election results, which also took the same amount of time for processing.

Maricopa County’s Elections Director Scott Jarrett highlighted that the county outperformed other similarly sized regions in voter turnout, achieving an impressive 80%. This figure exceeds the turnout rates of Harris County, Texas; Miami-Dade, Florida; and Cook County, Illinois, and surpasses the county’s average from presidential years.

The heightened interest in Maricopa County has elevated its profile in the national and international media, particularly following the controversies surrounding the 2020 election, which saw Arizona flip to blue for President Biden. In a notable move, the county granted media credentials to 686 journalists from 17 countries, emphasizing its commitment to transparency during the electoral process.

Preparation for the election, especially regarding the two-page ballot, was crucial for the swift counting of more than four million ballot pages. This year marked the first instance of ballots extending onto a second sheet since 2006, with an average of 79 races per ballot and over 13,000 unique ballot styles due to local contests and propositions.

When discussing how a simplified one-page ballot might have affected the counting speed, Jarrett expressed confidence, stating that 99% of results could have been reported on election night. “We are counting ballots faster than we ever have,” he commented, countering various pieces of inaccurate information circulating about the process.

However, Supervisor Thomas Galvin voiced concerns that the county’s counting could be expedited further. His proposals to improve early voting practices aim to streamline the tabulation process, albeit at the potential cost of limiting options for voters. Galvin advocates for legislative changes to prohibit voters from dropping off early ballots at polling sites on Election Day, suggesting a deadline of the preceding Friday instead.

These proposals have garnered mixed reactions, with some supervisors attributing the record slow counting to legislative decisions rather than to the electoral office. Democratic Supervisor Steve Gallardo criticized the state legislature for ignoring expert advice regarding election procedures, suggesting recent changes have exacerbated counting delays.

Despite the disagreements, Galvin pointed to bipartisan support, including backing from Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott for his initiatives. With the election canvass approved, the automatic recount process will commence for three specific races, where margins are exceptionally close:

• Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 3: Kate Brophy McGee (R) and Daniel Valenzuela (D) separated by 0.04%
• State Representative for Legislative District 2: Justin Wilmeth (R) and Ari Daniel Bradshaw (R) separated by 0.08%
• Fountain Hills Town Council: Matthew Corrigan and Peggy McMahon separated by 0.03%

***CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story inaccurately identified the candidates in the Fountain Hills Town Council race; the correct candidates are Matthew Corrigan and Peggy McMahon.