Voters are heading to the polls in a state marked by election denial

Arizona voters headed to the polls Tuesday in an electoral landscape irrevocably changed by false claims of race theft.

Officials across the country said they were prepared for a busy day at the polls and hoped it would go smoothly. But several counties were also preparing for national attention. Four years after former President Donald Trump lost the state and the election, denial has taken root; officials continue to see threats, protests and harassment.

They also face increasing pressure to hold perfect elections amid an ever-changing patchwork of state laws and intense scrutiny — an almost impossible demand to meet. Meanwhile, the margins of the races are getting tighter with each election cycle in battleground Arizona.

Election Day is a chance to regain the trust of voters. Officials across the country have been planning for more than a year to ensure a smooth day at the polls under immense pressure. Their preparations include security plans, equipment testing, personnel contingencies, communication strategies, and more.

“We’ve done everything we can to make sure our 15 counties are prepared for every scenario — from equipment failures to security threats at our polling places,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “We are united. against those who threaten our democracy, and we stand ready to defend our elections through a peaceful, democratic process.”

But new challenges keep emerging. Several counties face a long, two-page ballot that is likely to frustrate voters and lead to lines at the polls. New early voting laws waived at the last minute could mean delayed results on election night. And both issues could provide opportunities for those seeking to sow distrust in the electoral system.

Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said last month that he and his colleagues have invested heavily in election operations — especially communications — in 2020. He said the county, which is the state’s most populous and often the epicenter of election conspiracies , is prepared to respond to misinformation that occurs during voting and ballot counting.

“We know there’s a lot of interest in this election this year, and we want people to have every opportunity they want to go ahead and vote,” Gates said. “And if people are going to try to discourage them from doing that by spreading misinformation. , we will respond to it very quickly with the facts.”

Meanwhile, security is a growing concern. New election buildings boast state-of-the-art security measures, from cameras to fences to bulletproof glass. But polls must remain accessible to voters, and law enforcement must balance safety and the letter of the law with the constitutional liberties of protesters and election critics. Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner called it a “double-edged sword.”

“It’s troubling to see this heightened sense of security, the questions, the national — even global — attention that Maricopa County is getting,” he said at a news conference in October. “But I want you to be assured that there has been tremendous planning for many, many years around this operation for democracy and making sure that this community is safe.”

Two-page ballots, new laws: Will challenges affect Election Day?

Nine jurisdictions — including populous Maricopa and Pima counties — will see double-sided, two-page ballots on Election Day. Officials have has repeatedly warned that it could lead to wait times, car jams and other problems.

Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett said he has hired more election workers, added new vote centers, increased polling station capacity and made other changes to mitigate the impact of the long ticket. Officials are also encouraging voters to consider early voting or at least research contests on their ballot before heading to the polls.

“I’m pretty confident in the model we’ve built,” Jarrett said. “We have enough resources there.”

But he still predicts that a few polling places in the county could see lines of up to an hour. Some lines are normal in a busy presidential cycle, but this is a slightly longer wait than usual.

“It’s really at the voting booth,” Jarrett said. “It’s going to be those locations because it just so happens that all the voters in that location are taking longer to complete their vote.”

The wait won’t end once the polls close. Recent, smaller elections suggest new state law aimed at speeding up full unofficial results may delay release of election night results.

The new status it was created in reaction to another recent law requiring recounts in races by wider margins than previously required. That statute has raised concerns that more recounts could disrupt Arizona’s election certification program.

Getting a timing fix through the Arizona Legislature this spring required compromises from election officials — including one that requires counties to count the number of early ballots received at each of their polling places on Election Day and report those numbers. figures to the public on election night.

This counting process delayed the return of Election Day numbers during the state primary. Maricopa County officials anticipate another general election wait that could escalate tensions as politicians, pundits and voters across the country eagerly await the initial rounds of election results.

“It really depends on the volume of dropouts,” Deputy County Manager Zach Schira said. “It will be, as every choice is, unique to whatever the circumstances are.”

What do voters need to know?

Polls will be open Tuesday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for in-person voting and for early voters to continue to turn in ballots.

Most counties will use a polling center model for this election, which allows voters to vote at any polling place within its borders. A small number will use a constituency-based voting model where voters are assigned a polling station based on where they live, and others will use a hybrid model. Check with your local election officials to find polling stations in your county

You must show ID at the polls unless you are sending a postal ballot in a signed affidavit envelope. Remember to bring an acceptable form of identity.

To avoid the lines, consider voting in the morning or early afternoon, when the polls tend to be less busy. Cut down on your time at the polls by making a plan before you go to the polls so you can fill out your ballot faster.

If the polls close while you’re still in line to vote, don’t leave. As long as you are in line at 7pm, you are eligible to cast your vote.

What happens next?

Arizonans — and voters across the country — will see initial results from early voters and in-person voters at the polls on Election Night.

But this is only a partial picture of the election results. Arizona allows voters to return their early ballots until the polls close on Election Day. Each cycle, hundreds of thousands of voters opt out of so-called “early delays.”

Those ballots must be processed and pass signature verification, a mandatory safeguard against voter fraud. This means that it often takes more than a week to get full results. The more last-minute early ballots received, the longer it generally takes to count votes and determine close races — which are often a certainty in Arizona.

Jennifer Liewer, spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Elections Department, said officials there currently expect the count to take 10 to 13 days. Media outlets may be able to quickly announce the results of some races, but others will likely have a wait that will almost certainly inflame national tensions.

“While we will be tabulating ballots faster than ever before, we want people to know that it will take time to get results,” Liewer said. “Our races will be close.”

This story will be updated throughout Election Day.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Get to her at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Sign up for her weekly election newsletter, The story of the Republic.