Maricopa County Launches Investigation Into Election Day Printer Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, Jan. 6, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates (R) and Vice Chairman Clint Hickman (R) announced an independent investigation into the Election Day printer issues in Maricopa County, Arizona. Maricopa County is the state’s largest county, fourth largest in the country and home to Phoenix. 

On Nov. 8, 2022, Election Day, issues with ballot-on-demand printers — technology that produces a unique ballot as a given voter checks in — led to some ballots to be rejected by vote center tabulators. Despite delays and confusion, county officials have repeatedly stressed that all voters were given an opportunity to cast a counted ballot. Right-wing conspiracies have focused on these unintentional missteps, which have also been the center of several election contests — all of which have been rejected by Arizona courts. 

“This Board of Supervisors has always been committed to continuous improvement,” the statement begins. “When things don’t work, we find out why.” Former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor will lead the investigation.

Read the statement here.

Learn more about Maricopa County’s Election Day issues here.