Maricopa County Vows Voters Can Cast Ballots Without Intimidation
At a November 2 news conference, Maricopa County election officials sought to reassure voters ahead of the midterm election, saying they would be able to vote without intimidation. The county plans to open 254 polling locations from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 3.
Deputy Elections Director Jennifer Liewer said the county expected about 250,000 people to vote in person and a similar number to drop off mail ballots. More than 2.5 million people were registered in the county as of October 5, and nearly one million votes had been received by Monday afternoon, she said. Voters may use any polling location countywide, including to return a mail ballot.
County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee praised election staff and said the county had prepared for potential obstacles. More than 4,000 community members are scheduled to work as poll workers, with over 800 assigned to the ballot tabulation center. The first results batch, consisting of mail ballots received before October 31, is expected at 8 p.m. on November 3.
The county has faced election-administration challenges, including a vendor mailing more than 3,000 ballots early, a lawsuit over voter registrations incorrectly marked as noncitizens, and a lockdown at the tabulation center after reported suspicious activity. The Justice Department is sending election monitors. County security director Frank McWilliams said officials are coordinating with law enforcement and would not place a strong uniformed presence at polling sites. Brophy McGee said every lawful vote would be counted.
Protect Voters From Intimidation as Maricopa Prepares for Election Day
The central test for Maricopa County on November 3 is whether voters can cast their ballots without intimidation. At a November 2 news conference, Deputy Elections Director Jennifer Liewer assured the public they would be able to do so, while county security director Frank McWilliams said officials would not put a strong uniformed presence at polling sites.
That assurance matters in a county whose election administration has faced a series of disruptions: a vendor sent more than 3,000 ballots early, officials dealt with a lawsuit over registrations mistakenly marked as noncitizens, and the tabulation center was locked down after reported suspicious activity. The Justice Department is sending election monitors, which Liewer described as a good-faith effort to let voters exercise their rights.
The county expects about 250,000 people to vote in person and another 250,000 to drop off mail ballots. Its 254 polling locations will welcome voters between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. More than 2.5 million people were registered as of October 5, and officials said nearly one million votes had arrived by the afternoon of November 2.
Officials say they are coordinating with law enforcement and preparing for potential problems. The measure of that preparation will be whether it protects access without making voters feel threatened. The county expects to release the first results batch at 8 p.m. on November 3, with accuracy and every lawful vote counted as priorities.
Maricopa Election Officials Promise Orderly Voting Amid Election-Day Concerns
Maricopa County election officials say they have plans in place to keep Election Day orderly and ensure every lawful ballot is counted. At a November 2 news conference, Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee praised election workers’ preparation, while security director Frank McWilliams said officials were coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement.
The assurance comes after a difficult stretch for election administration: a vendor mailed more than 3,000 ballots early, a lawsuit sought to restore registrations mistakenly marked as noncitizens, and the county tabulation center was locked down after reported suspicious activity. Officials said they were prepared to vet threats and respond to obstacles without changing Election Day operations.
The county expects about 250,000 in-person voters and roughly 250,000 mail-ballot drop-offs. Its 254 voting locations will welcome voters between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on November 3. More than 2.5 million people were registered as of October 5, nearly one million votes had arrived by Monday afternoon, and thousands of poll workers and tabulation staff are scheduled to serve.
The Justice Department will send election monitors to the county. Liewer said officials viewed that as a good-faith effort to support voters, while McWilliams said the county would not deploy a strong uniformed presence at polling sites. The first batch of results, from mail ballots received before October 31, is expected at 8 p.m. on November 3. Officials say ballots should be processed quickly without compromising accuracy.
Reported by AZFamily, Phoenix New Times.
