The Maricopa election officials are responsible for the disaster that happened recently on Election Day, November 8. Most likely, their gross negligence and/or purposeful manipulation led to the disenfranchisement of many voters. The public deserves answers.
The Wall Street Journal estimates that 43% of voting centers in Maricopa County experienced “issues” with voting tabulators on Election Day, November 8th. Poll workers were unable to remedy the situation easily because they had not been instructed as to what to do in such an emergency. As a result, some voters had to choose between standing in long lines or driving from one part of town to another in pursuit of a functional voting site. Many of these people lacked the physical stamina for the queues or the time to search for another site.
The voters who remained at their original site followed instructions to put their ballots in “Door 3.” The reports vary as to what happened to those ballots. The voters who found a second site ended up missing out nevertheless because they had registered at the previous site. Thus, they were in the system as having already voted so were refused ballots
Throughout the day, radio news reported the problems and national television showed the lines extending the distance or a city block or further. Arizona appeared again as a state that could not do a decent job of running an election. Extending the voting time beyond the 7 PM deadline seemed crucial. However, a liberal judge refused the request to do so. Nothing was done to alleviate the problem.
Conservative-leaning, somewhat isolated Anthem, New River and Desert Hills – communities located about 30 miles north of downtown Phoenix – were hit particularly hard because the voters had only two voting sites to choose from: the Anthem Outlets or Desert Hills Community Church that was difficult to reach and had a small parking area. Republican Party legislative district leaders had asked for an additional site after experiencing a need for one in the primary. In fact, the officials at Palmcroft Church in Anthem had agreed to offer their facility for this purpose. It was easily accessible and would provide decent parking. No matter, the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center ignored the Republicans’ request to add a third voting site.
The Anthem Outlets had problems all day with their voting tabulators. People who drove to the Desert Hills church could not find adequate places to park. They either gave up or parked in questionable spots that resulted in curb damage. It was one huge fiasco.
The people in those small communities feel they have experienced voting suppression and disenfranchisement – probably because that is the best way to describe what happened to them.
Through it all, Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said that anyone who wanted to vote had the opportunity to vote.
The election officials were well aware that a large number of voters – especially Trump supporters – intended to vote on Election Day. Some of them wanted to follow a tradition and others distrusted mail-in and drop-box voting. It was their right. There is no law against voting on Election Day.
It would seem the election officials would want an investigation to clear their names and restore trust in the voting process. Otherwise, they appear guilty as they insist “Nothing to see here.” Unless we have an investigation and correction of what happened, the people of Arizona will not accept the election as legitimate – nor should they.
By Johanna J. Haver, author of Vindicated: Closing the Hispanic Achievement Gap Through English Immersion and former member of the Maricopa County Community College District (2015 to 2019).