An outside review of ballot printing mishaps in Maricopa County during the 2022 midterm elections that caused long lines and vote tabulation delays in critical Arizona races blamed the headaches on printer failures and paper ballot thickness.
Maricopa County, which includes the Phoenix area, contains 60% of Arizona’s voters and has been a hotbed for election denialism in the last two cycles. Former President Donald Trump alleged widespread fraud in Maricopa County tipped the state to President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, while failed 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has cited Maricopa County election woes in her unsuccessful efforts to overturn her loss to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ).
FORMER ARIZONA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TO SPEARHEAD INQUIRY INTO BALLOT PRINTER DEBACLE
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors commissioned former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor in January to spearhead an investigation into why printers in the area had performance issues during the general election after operating successfully in the primaries. Nearly a quarter of the Election Day voting centers in the area had issues with tabulating or printing ballots.
McGregor’s report, released Monday, attributed the Election Day failures to older printers being unable to maintain heat levels necessary to print ballots dark enough to be read by on-site tabulators and the length and thickness of the ballots causing the printers to fail.
“This report is exactly what we needed. An unbiased analysis of what happened and a range of recommendations for what to do next,” Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Jack Sellers said in a statement. “Whether it’s replacing printers, using different paper, or changing the way we test equipment before an election, you can be sure our Board will take any steps necessary to ensure in-person voters have the experience they deserve in 2024.”
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The county has vehemently denied accusations of malfeasance or allegations that its election oversight altered outcomes.
Ryan King contributed to this report.
