Pinal County Supervisor Urges Attorney General to Probe Primary Election Results

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

A Pinal County supervisor is urging the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to investigate the county’s primary election results. Kevin Cavanaugh, the Republican candidate who lost his bid for sheriff, claims there’s a suspicious pattern in the voting data.

Cavanaugh shared his analysis with Votebeat, stating it provides “strong evidence that cheating has occurred.” He believes the nearly identical results between early ballots and election day ballots in various races hint at inaccuracies.

However, two independent analysts reviewed Cavanaugh’s findings and remarked it’s not necessarily indicative of fraud. Benny White, a Republican, and Sam Almy, a Democrat, noted the complexity of voter behavior and recent unpredictable patterns. A spokesperson from the Attorney General’s Office acknowledged receiving Cavanaugh’s complaint but couldn’t confirm an investigation.

Cavanaugh plans to raise his concerns again when the supervisors meet to certify the election results. He pointed out the unusual parity between early and election day votes in local races, which he asserts is atypical. Cavanaugh argues that Republicans usually vote more in person, so the identical percentages raise questions.

Yet, White and Almy argue that many factors can explain voting behavior, and recent elections have shown increasing unpredictability. County Attorney Kent Volkmer and Recorder Dana Lewis both expressed confidence in the election’s integrity, citing rigorous checks and early testing. Volkmer acknowledged the pattern as curious but not necessarily suspicious.

Lewis emphasized their facilities’ transparency and thorough pre- and post-election testing. She dismissed claims that election staff manipulated results. The county underwent significant improvements after issues in the 2022 midterms, which made her trust the latest results even more.

Cavanaugh, a persistent critic of the county’s election department, remains skeptical. He mentioned possibly asking for an expanded hand count after the results are certified. Although Arizona law restricts hand-count audits, Volkmer believes expanded scrutiny might boost voter confidence.

Democratic Chair Lisa Sanor, who observed both the machine testing and vote counting, saw nothing amiss but acknowledged that a hand count could provide final clarity. The voting machines, operated under strict security and constant observation, passed all logic and accuracy tests. White and Almy cautioned against hasty conclusions based on limited data.

Almy highlighted that differences in early and election day voting are more prevalent in high-profile races. For local races, other factors often explain voter behavior. Since 2020, misinformation and COVID-19 have disrupted traditional voting patterns, complicating analysis.

White summarized the issue succinctly, warning that focusing on a single irregularity can lead to misleading conclusions.