Heated reactions come after thousands of votes set aside for later counting after glitches in ballot tabulation process
Republican voters frustrated with Maricopa County’s handling of the midterm election blasted the county’s board of supervisors on Nov. 16 and called for a new election.
“I’m just disgusted by your behavior and the decisions that you’ve made. Look at all these people out here suffering so badly because of your falsehoods,” said Sheila Roberts of Phoenix during the board’s public comment portion.
While Roberts said she was “pretty frustrated” by the ballot tabulation process on election day, she wanted “transparency and truth” and to “look every one of you in the eyes.
“Please, think about what you’re doing. Represent all of us and make sure all these votes count,” Roberts said.
Matt Baker of Phoenix began shouting at board members when it was his turn to speak.
“Once again, the eyes of the world are upon Maricopa County for another botched election,” he said.
“Am I here to accuse you of stealing the vote? Heavens no. That would make me a terrorist, wouldn’t it?” Baker said, and then asked, “What is more valuable, your vote or your money?”
County election officials estimate that 20 percent of ballot tabulating equipment experienced problems on election day in the county.
Those uncounted ballots, numbering in excess of 17,000, that didn’t get read went into a separate box for later counting at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix. An estimated 25,000 ballots remained uncounted as of Nov. 14, according to Arizona’s secretary of state office.
‘We’re not going to have any outbursts’
At least a dozen speakers, mostly Republican, voiced their frustrations about problems with the county’s electoral process at Nov. 16’s board meeting. Most comments reflected a level of mistrust for the county’s electoral system not seen since the 2020 presidential election.
By Allan Stein
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