Contributed By Gila County
GILA COUNTY – Unfounded rumors and speculation have become a post-election tradition as unwelcome as abandoned campaign roadside signs.
Fortunately, though, local elections officials from the Gila County Recorder’s Office and the Elections Department have answers to correct misinformation spread during the first weeks following the recent primary.
Elections Director Eric Mariscal, along with Recently re-elected Gila County Recorder Sadie Bingham, corralled one dozen false allegations and a few questions, below, along with the answers to correct misinformation:
Allegation: “The Recorder’s Office and Elections Department stayed open past 7 p.m. to let people vote and change ballots.”
False: the Recorder’s Office was open on Election Day from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. to assist voters and poll workers. At 7 p.m. the Office closed to the public, but staff were still at work, processing early ballots that were received and provisional ballots delivered from polling locations on election day.
Election Director Eric Mariscal and his department staff worked late, too–in their case until after midnight posting results of the election.
Allegation: “All ballots must be counted and tabulated on election day.”
False: Early ballots dropped off on election day and provisional ballots cast on election day must be verified before they can be counted.
Mail-in ballots dropped off at the polls are picked up on election night by the Recorder’s Office, which must verify the signatures before sending them back over to the Elections Office for the early boards to process; that is why all ballots are not able to be tabulated on election night. Ballots that are in the curing process also have a timeline.
Allegation: “2,700 ballots are still waiting to be counted.”
False: There were approximately 2,700 early ballots that were received the Friday before Election-to-Election Day (mail, drop-box, and polling locations).
The Recorder’s Office does not process the early ballots received during that time until after the polls close. This is to make sure someone doesn’t vote twice.
The early ballots were transported to the Elections Department on Wednesday. There were approximately 50 provisional ballots that were verified and transported to the Elections Department.
All ballots have been tabulated.
Allegation: “The Elections Department is over all City and Town Elections.”
False: Every city and town has its own filing officer, they use Gila County as their “vendor,” essentially.
Allegation: “Two cameras in the Election room were turned off on Election night.”
False: No outage was reported; cameras are currently still on and will be until the challenge period is over, another two weeks at least.
Allegation: “Independents couldn’t vote.”
False: Independents can and did vote, as Gila County Recorder Sadie Bingham reaffirmed many times on social media, radio, and local newspapers for a full month before the primary election.
Independents were able to choose a Republican, Democrat, or non-partisan ballot (AZ. Const. Art. 7 § 10 and ARS 16-544)
Allegation: “The reports are not accurate–they still show unofficial results.”
False: The results are official, as the Gila County Board of Supervisors voted on Aug. 9 during a special meeting where they reviewed the primary and unanimously canvassed the election–as required by state law.
Allegation: “Early ballots do not count, and signatures are not verified.”
False: All early ballots that are verified are counted. All early ballot signatures are verified.
Allegation: “ID isn’t required to vote early.”
False: ID is required if you vote early in person or at a polling place/vote center on Election Day.
Allegation: “There were 1,000 ballots missing.
False: There were no ballots missing, everything was accounted for.
Question: “Why are we canvassing?”
Answer: Because it is required by Arizona state law.
Allegation: “The Elections Department must have a court order to recount the ballots.”
That last one is correct.
Specific results of the Gila County primary are posted here: gilacountyaz.gov/government/elections; where you can also read much more about elections– everything from campaign finance and candidate filing information to FAQs about elections, how to sign up to be a poll worker in your town for the November General Election (and earn up to $258!); plus initiatives, referendums and recalls–and voter outreach.
Another resource on the county website is gilacountyaz.gov/government/recorder; and for accurate local, statewide, and national election information, please like and follow facebook.com/gilacountyrecorder.
