Republicans Warn Of Long Lines And Delays In Maricopa County’s Election Day Plan

Republican leaders are sounding alarms over potential Election Day challenges in Maricopa County, Arizona. They argue the county’s plan is insufficient, which could lead to long wait times for voters, possibly discouraging many from casting their ballots.

GOP representatives both locally and nationally have criticized the county’s strategy. Harmeet Dhillon of the Republican National Committee and Abe Hamadeh, the Republican nominee for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, sent a letter to the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and Board of Supervisors. They claimed the county’s preparations are inadequate, noting the new two-page ballot and pointing to concerns that voters could take longer than expected to complete it.

Maricopa County has announced that ballot counting could take 10-13 days after Election Day, meaning that some races may not be decided immediately. This extended timeline has heightened concerns, as Arizona remains a critical battleground state with tight races.

Dhillon and Hamadeh cited previous equipment issues, particularly printers malfunctioning in past elections, and argued that these problems haven’t been sufficiently resolved. They warned that delays similar to those experienced in 2022 could resurface, causing more chaos on Election Day.

In their letter, the GOP officials suggested deploying additional backup machines, setting up more voting booths, and opening emergency locations to reduce wait times. They also recommended informing voters of these potential delays and urging them to vote early to minimize congestion.

Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett assured that workers are receiving extra training to manage any ballot tabulation issues that may arise. Nonetheless, Republicans remain concerned, pointing to a voting location being removed near Paradise Valley Community College—an area with historically high voter turnout.

With the county’s voter base exceeding four million people, officials acknowledged that narrow margins and Arizona’s election laws could further delay results. Republicans argue these delays and long lines will discourage voters from participating.

Kari Lake, a Republican candidate for Senate, criticized the timeline on social media, questioning why results should take over a week when a law was passed to expedite the process. Lake urged the county to allow voters to self-tabulate early ballots, a measure she believes would speed up results.

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