By Sasha Hupka || The Arizona Republic
Anger and disappointment over the midterm elections was on full display Wednesday morning in Maricopa County.
The Board of Supervisors’ auditorium, usually empty, was half-packed for an atypically lively meeting. Elections weren’t on the regular agenda, which covered planning and zoning, funds and contracts for county offices and liquor license applications.
But when it was time for the public comment session, elections was the main topic.
County residents and visitors alike shared frustration, conspiracies and their doubts over election integrity.
Supervisor Clint Hickman quipped that it was “the loudest I’ve ever heard the Pledge of Allegiance said in this auditorium.”
Two years ago, the same board was first hit with unfounded accusations of widespread fraud and a stolen election after Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race.
Statewide polling shows that large majorities of Arizona voters believe elections are fair and secure. But those unproven claims continue to circulate. The board has been under siege despite a Republican Senate-ordered hand count of ballots that affirmed Biden’s win and the county’s point-by-point response to questions raised during that process.
More than 20 speakers echoed the same unproven claims around extra ballots and uncounted votes while addressing supervisors about the most recent election.
