Arizona election denial hotspot boosts security

Razor wire. Thick black iron fence. Metal detectors. Armed security guards. Bomb sweeper.

The security at this center, where workers count ballots, mirrors what you might see at an airport — or even a prison. And, if necessary, there are plans to further beef up security to include drones, mounted officers and police snipers on rooftops.

Maricopa County became the center of election conspiracy theories during the 2020 presidential race after Donald Trump spread unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud when he lost the state to Joe Biden by fewer than 11,000 votes.

Falsehoods went viral, armed protesters flooded the building where the ballots were counted, and a flurry of lawsuits and audits aimed to challenge the results.

The aftermath of the election changed how officials here handle the typically mundane procedure of counting ballots and ushered in a new era of high security.

“We’re treating this like a big event, like the Super Bowl,” Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner told the BBC.

The county, the fourth most populous in the United States and home to about 60% of Arizona voters, has been planning the election for more than a year, according to Skinner.

The sheriff takes care of security at the polling stations and the center where the ballots are counted. The deputies are now trained in election laws, something most law enforcement officers would not be well versed in.

“Our hope is that it doesn’t arise to a level of need for it,” he said when asked about heightened security measures such as drones and snipers. “But we will be prepared to make sure we meet the need, to ensure the safety and security of that building” and its employees.

The election process here in many ways mirrors that in counties across the country. Ballots are cast at polling places throughout the county and then taken to a central area in Phoenix where they are tabulated. If submitted, the ballots are inspected and the signatures verified. They are counted in a painstaking process that includes two workers – from different political parties – who sort them and examine them for any errors.

The process is live streamed 24 hours a day.

While much of this process remains the same, much else has changed. Since the 2020 election, a new law has been passed that makes it easier to call a recount in the state. Previously, if a race was decided by a small margin of 0.1% of the votes cast, a recount would take place. It has now been raised to 0.5 per cent.

The tabulation center now abounds with surveillance cameras, armed security and a double layer of fencing.

Thick canvas blankets cover parts of a parking lot fence to keep out prying eyes. Officials say the canvas was an extra measure to protect employees from being harassed and threatened outside the building.

“I think it’s sad that we have to do these things,” Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said.

Gates, a Republican who says he was diagnosed with PTSD after the election threats he received in the 2020 election, has no plans to run again after this election is over because of the tensions.

“I want people to understand that when they go to polling centres, these are not militarized zones,” he told the BBC. “You can feel safe going there with your family, with your children and participating in democracy.”

The county has invested millions since 2020. It’s not just security either. They now have a communications team of 30 members.

A major focus has been transparency — live streaming hours of tabulator testing, offering dozens of public tours of their buildings and recruiting staff to contest online rumors and election conspiracies.

“We kind of shifted,” Assistant County Manager Zach Schira told the BBC, explaining that after 2020 they decided, “OK, we’re going to communicate about every single part of this process, we’re going to debunk every single theory that’s out there.”

It has all led up to Tuesday’s election.

“We may be over-prepared,” said Sheriff Skinner, “but I’d rather prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Some Maricopa Republicans told the BBC they have been following the recent changes and believed there would be fewer problems this election cycle.

“They’ve taken steps that I think will help,” said Garrett Ludwick, a 25-year-old who attended a recent Scottsdale rally for Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.

“More people are paying attention to things now, too, and I think there will be a lot of people watching everything like a hawk,” he said, wearing a Trump cap that read: “Make Liberals Cry” .

One Republican voter, Edward, told the BBC that the 2020 cycle made him more involved. He has now registered for two shifts at polling places in Maricopa County on Tuesday.

“Going to a rally or getting upset isn’t going to fix things,” he said. “I wanted to be part of the solution.”

Not everyone is convinced.

“I still think it was rigged,” said Maleesa Meyers, 55, who, like some Republican voters, said her distrust of the process is too deep-rooted to believe the election could be fair. “It’s very hard to trust anyone nowadays.”

Results in Arizona often depend on Maricopa County, giving the county an overall role in the outcome. Officials here estimate it could take as long as 13 days to count all the ballots — meaning the expected close race in this swing state may not be called on election night.

“There’s a chance that by 2024, the whole world will be watching what the outcome is in Maricopa County,” said Schira, the assistant county executive.

“Really, the world’s confidence in democracy could come down to this.”