The Maricopa County Recorder, Helen Purcell, issued the following statement regarding the elections department error in circulating bookmarks with the correct election date printed in English on one side. The date was listed incorrectly in Spanish on the opposite side of the bookmarks. Democrats tried to use the mistake to raise concerns of voter suppression in the Latino community:
It has been a difficult week, but I want to make sure voters in Maricopa County know we consider this office as a sacred trust. We in Maricopa County have dedicated our careers and our lives to protect and expand the citizens’ right to vote. Let me address some misconceptions that have arisen recently; some, unfortunately, of our own making.
First of all, I never said that it is illegal, much less a Class 5 felony, to collect, possess and deliver ballots of voters. Indeed, this office has worked cooperatively with a host of organizations, of all parties and persuasions, to assist voters get their ballots to the polls. We applaud the work of Promise Arizona and other groups in their efforts to register new qualified voters and have their ballots counted.
It is, however, illegal for anyone to falsely represent himself as a Maricopa County Elections Department official. The County Recorder’s Office is not sending out workers to collect ballots. It is wrong, illegal, a Class 5 felony, to misrepresent yourself as an elections official if you are not. We question why anyone would do that – especially as an attempt to undermine the commendable get-out-the-vote efforts of political parties and community activist groups.
Concerning the regrettable error on the Spanish-language Voter ID and bookmark: I wish I could say we never made a mistake in this office. But we do. However, the suggestion that this office would be a party to a dark conspiracy to depress voter turnout among any constituency or ethnic group is contrary to the history, the commitment and ideals of this office, my staff and my life’s work. It is simply a malicious lie. We have dedicated decades of the highest public service to expand voter participation. A former President once described the vote as the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice. We agree and our professional careers attest to that high mission.
To that end, we will be launching a very aggressive Spanish language publicity campaign to make sure everyone knows that the election will be held on Tuesday, November 6. Martes, 6 de noviembre. Such a message already appears prominently, in Spanish and English, on the Maricopa County Recorder’s and Elections Department Websites.
Your vote is your voice. We take seriously our responsibility to enable you to use it.