Maricopa County Prepares For Election Day Chaos As Republicans Warn Of Long Waits

In Arizona’s Maricopa County, Republican officials are warning of long lines and delayed results ahead of the upcoming election. They claim the county’s preparations are inadequate, potentially causing chaos and discouraging voters from participating.

The county announced that tallying all votes could take up to 13 days, which would delay results for many critical races. Republicans argue this timeline is unacceptable, with some races possibly remaining undecided well after Election Day.

Harmeet Dhillon and Abe Hamadeh, representing the Republican National Committee and Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, respectively, wrote to county officials urging immediate action. Their letter criticized the county’s reliance on a 12-minute estimate for voters to complete the new two-page ballot, suggesting this timeframe is unrealistic. They also highlighted equipment issues, such as jamming printers, that have occurred in previous elections.

The GOP officials noted the removal of a high-turnout voting center near Paradise Valley Community College as another potential barrier for voters. They called for an emergency meeting with county officials to discuss solutions, such as deploying backup machines and adding more secrecy booths.

Maricopa County officials have acknowledged these concerns. Elections Director Scott Jarrett stated that extra training is being provided to poll workers to address any issues with ballot machines. However, he did not offer a guarantee that delays would be avoided.

GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake voiced her frustration on social media, questioning why the county refuses to allow voters to self-tabulate early ballots—a measure that she claims could significantly speed up the process. She urged voters to demand changes to ensure a smoother Election Day.

With Arizona’s status as a swing state and over two million people expected to vote, the possibility of long waits and delayed results remains a focal point of concern for Republican leaders and voters alike.