As Maricopa County prepares for the 2024 U.S. Election, its main tabulation center located in Phoenix has undergone various security measures including razor-wire-topped fencing, armed security, and metal detectors along with more robust measures such as drones, mounted officers and snipers on standby.
Having been a point of focus since the Presidential Election in 2020, where the results triggered widespread accusations about alleged voter fraud leading to armed protests at balloting centers, spurring lawsuits and audits, the county has overhauled its election security strategies and transparency.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department has been making preparations for the election for over a year training the deputies in election law. The Sherriff mentioned that the event is being treated very seriously, and compared it to the Superbowl.
Ballots in Maricopa are cast at voting centers or by mail, and are then transported to a central tabulation facility in Phoenix, to be processed and counted. Each ballot is verified, sorted and examined for indiscretions by two workers from different political parties. This entire process is livestreamed to ensure transparency, a practice instigated after the events of the previous election.
Since 2020, Arizona has adjusted recount laws to address the slim margins seen in recent elections, where previously, only races within a 0.1% margin were subject to recounts; that threshold has now been increased to 0.5%.
County officials have invested millions in bolstering security and public communications, with Maricopa’s 30-member communications team working to counter online misinformation and organize public tours, including livestreams of ballot machine tests, aimed at providing transparency. Assistant County Manager Zach Schira stated that the county’s approach has become to openly communicate each step of the process and promptly refute any circulating theories.
Maricopa officials acknowledge the impact of heightened security on the election atmosphere. “I think it is sad that we’re having to do these things,” commented Bill Gates, a Republican Maricopa County Supervisor. After receiving threats post-2020 election, Gates said he has decided not to run for office again, citing the emotional toll from tensions surrounding elections. “When [people] go to vote centers, these are not militarized zones,” he emphasized, urging voters to feel comfortable participating.
Among Maricopa’s voters, perspectives on election integrity vary widely, with some voters expressing confidence in recent security measures, noting improved transparency while others, however, remain skeptical, questioning whether procedural changes can restore trust.
Election night in Arizona may not yield immediate results, with the Maricopa County’s final count possibly extending up to 13 days due to the predicted number of ballots, delaying the outcome in this critical swing state. The county’s officials acknowledge that with global attention focused on the U.S. election, Maricopa’s results carry significant implications.
As Election Day approaches, Maricopa County remains prepared to manage heightened security and meticulous ballot-counting processes while striving to uphold public confidence in the democratic process.
