The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office is turning to county employees to set up voting equipment instead of hiring a technology company for the general election in November after facing criticism for reports of delays in the opening of polling sites in the primary election in August.
Maricopa Recorder Adrian Fontes said reports of delays from some voters were blown out of proportion by the media and that record voter participation is what’s worth noting. He said the focus on “minor issues” is frustrating and dissuades voters.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office reported that a record 1.2 million people cast a ballot in August, 33 percent of registered voters. An interim report by the Internal Audit Office says 62 out of 503 polling stations opened at 11:33 a.m. rather than 6 a.m. when they were scheduled to open.
The Internal Audit Office’s report identifies a lack of a contingency plan as the main cause for delays in August, something Fontes’ office denies.
“We attacked the problem. All Maricopa voters had a place to vote,” Fontes said.
Full Article: County to rely on employees, not tech company, during next election.