By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Graham County’s General Election results were approved during a special meeting of the Graham County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.
BOS Vice-Chairman Clay Mack (District 3) led the meeting in the physical absence of Chairman John Howard (District 2) who appeared telephonically. Mack was joined by Supervisor Paul David (District 1) and County Manager Dustin Welker. After presentations by Graham County School Superintendent Donna McGaughey and Graham County Elections Director Hannah Duderstadt, the board unanimously approved the canvass for the General Election for Graham County. Click here for full election results.
Just as was the case in the presidential election of 2020, Duderstadt reported no irregularities for the election, and that Graham County was once again the first county to report its results to the state election night.
“I’m very happy, relieved, and pleased to bring the canvass before the board for approval,” Duderstadt said.
Duderstadt reported a total of 15,327 votes cast, with 9,429 cast early, and 4,946 on election day for a voter turnout of 74 percent. She said they completed a follow-up hand count on Friday and found only a few discrepancies within the margin of error – indicating that the machines were tabulating correctly.
Duderstadt thanked County Manager Welker for his support and the numerous staff who assisted in the elections. She added that some true “unsung heroes” of the election are the poll workers who had a very long day on Election Day.
“They were flooded and I don’t think they ever had a break and it’s a 15-hour long day,” Duderstadt said. “But they did it. They do it with smiles on their faces. They’re kind to everyone. They enjoy what they do. They are the unsung heroes of this and they are amazing, so I want to shout out to them.”
Chairman Howard told Duderstadt and Welker that the elections team was an example of how elections should be run.
“We just have an amazing, amazing team, and I couldn’t be more prouder to be a small part of it,” Howard said. “I know we don’t do a whole lot but we do, we do appreciate all the hard work that’s put in.”
