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Joint Statement Addressing Election Misinformation
"Election integrity is essential so voters can vote confidently. Unfortunately, casting doubt on the system and misrepresenting the work of election workers has become an effective method to erode trust in elections. When this happens, the Board of Supervisors and our Elections Department believe transparent communication is our best defense.
To that end, this morning our Elections Department hosted representatives from local political parties to the tabulation center to address recent livestream camera footage in which two county employees were working after regular business hours at the Ballot Tabulation Center. That footage has become fodder for online speculation and misinformation targeting Maricopa County Elections and the employees themselves.
These are the facts:
- On the evening of Oct. 7, two Maricopa County employees were performing authorized and necessary work to update software and upload election data to a computer terminal that is not connected to the internet or ballot tabulation equipment.
- This work did not involve the Election Management System or tabulators used to count votes.
- Employees were updating software on the ballot duplication system, which is used when a ballot is returned torn or otherwise damaged in a way that it cannot be read by a tabulator. When that occurs during an election, a bipartisan board comprised of one Republican, and one Democrat duplicates the ballot using a special terminal that contains every ballot style so it can be printed and read accurately by the tabulator. This system must be set up prior to early ballots being tabulated. The entire process is subject to rigorous audits during and after every election.
- An employee used a USB to load authorized election files onto the duplication terminal. This is the only way to upload necessary data related to the election because the system is not connected to the Internet. Use of USB drives is standard procedure and permitted by Arizona State law and the Election Procedures Manual.
Maricopa County is the nation’s 3rd largest voting jurisdiction. Administration of our elections is a massive and multifaceted endeavor. Working outside the hours of a traditional workday in the weeks preceding and following an election is not unusual. We fully support our county employees and elections staff in their work to ensure a secure, lawful, transparent and accurate election.”
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