By Kaila White | The Republic
A new study released last month from a widely trusted academic project measured experts’ perceptions of their state’s electoral integrity in the 2016 general election, and that study ranked Arizona as the worst in the nation.
Now, state officials and other researchers are pushing back on the study and challenging its methods, while the project’s director stands behind its methodology.
The Perceptions of Electoral Integrity survey asked political experts about elections in the states where they live to measure their perceptions of how well or poorly their state adhered to international standards of conduct before, during and after an election.
Its writers argue that it’s important to be aware of any perception of electoral fraud or corruption because, even without actual fraud, the perception of fraud can lead to a loss of public confidence in the voting process.
Related: Secretary of State floats election law overhaul
