The former acting director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell, accused Arizona’s Democratic election officials of failing to count all votes in last year’s attorney general election.
Grenell issued the statement in response to Attorney General Kris Mayes’ allusion to her own close race in a post encouraging Arizonans to vote. Mayes posted the margin that declared her victor as proof that even a few votes could make the difference in a race. Grenell pointed out that Mayes has thwarted efforts to review the 9,000 provisional ballots excluded from the final vote count.
“Kris Mayes and the Democrats failed to count every vote,” said Grenell. “You didn’t win by 280 – because we don’t know how the 9,000 uncounted votes fall.”
Kris Mayes and the Democrats failed to count every vote.
You didn’t win by 280 – because we don’t know how the 9,000 uncounted votes fall. https://t.co/qZmOZuR872
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) September 20, 2023
Mayes issued her remarks in a National Voter Registration Day repost of Vice President Kamala Harris’ interview with actress Storm Reid. The Biden administration has consistently tapped social media influencers and Hollywood’s upper crust to gin up engagement and support among younger generations.
“280 votes, Arizona!” posted Mayes. “Every vote matters.”
To celebrate National Voter Registration Day, I sat down with @stormreid to discuss how voting is one important way young leaders can make a difference. pic.twitter.com/tJsWRfPHtu
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 19, 2023
Mayes’ Republican contender, Abe Hamadeh, has provided some evidence to the court that valid votes weren’t counted in his race.
During oral arguments in May, Hamadeh’s team presented findings on undervotes indicating a different outcome for the race: a .61 percent misread rate of a sampling of 2,000 ballots, translating to over 400 votes allegedly belonging to Hamadeh that were potentially lost. They also alleged that over 1,100 voters were disenfranchised by changes made to their registration address without their knowledge or consent, occurring due to changes to the state’s computer system, which resulted in those voters being unable to cast a ballot come Election Day.
Hamadeh responded to Grenell, expressing confidence that the uncounted votes would’ve been largely in his favor. Hamadeh based his remarks on the rate of Election Day voters that voted for him, averaging around 70 percent.
Oh we know how they voted, 70% of the remaining votes are Republican.
— Abe Hamadeh (@AbrahamHamadeh) September 20, 2023
Apart from Hamadeh’s claims, there’s outside evidence of voter fraud that qualifies as substantial considering the close 280-vote margin.
Earlier this month, an election integrity group accused Mayes of ignoring evidence of double voters. The organization, Look Ahead America, submitted 69 double voter cases to Mayes’ office ranging from 2020 to 2022. One voter case concerned someone who has voted in three states in every election since 2016.
Mayes’ office dismissed the case, citing “historical elements” and the amount of time that has passed.
“[W]e are no longer reviewing these complaints based on historical elements and the unlikelihood of any potential prosecution after the length of time has passed,” stated the office.
The organization pledged to refile their complaint in six months’ time, per state law, in addition to another 72 cases they discovered.
Mayes also joked about her close win in a post on Tuesday.
“They might not be calling me Landslide Mayes anytime soon… every. single. vote. counts,” said Mayes.
They might not be calling me Landslide Mayes anytime soon…every. single. vote. counts.
Make sure your voter registration is up to date or register for the first time and make your voice heard. https://t.co/K9RJv9HWjX
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) September 19, 2023