Pillars Updates

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer Hosts Informative “Ask Me Anything” Town Hall

Sunday October 6, 2024 · 7:04 PM

On Monday, September 23, Pillars of the Community held an “Ask Me Anything” Townhall with Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer and more than two dozen community members. Recorder Richer addressed participants’ questions and described the safeguards around Arizona’s election processes ahead of the upcoming election.

Key Takeaways:

Recorder Richer addressed a variety of questions, aiming to dispel common misconceptions and build voter confidence in the electoral process. The question and answer session included:

  • Are voting machines connected to the internet? Richer reassured attendees that voting machines are not connected to the internet, directly addressing a frequently asked question during election season.
  • Can someone vote more than once? Maricopa County uses SiteBook, a secure voter check-in system, designed to prevent double voting. When a voter checks in at a polling location, SiteBook performs a real-time check against the voter database to ensure the person has not already cast a ballot. If a ballot has been issued but not returned, SiteBook cancels that issued ballot immediately.
  • How do election officials maintain voter registration rolls? Voter roll maintenance is a key aspect of election security. Richer explained that the county cross-checks multiple sources, including obituaries, death records, juror databases, Social Security Numbers, the National Change of Address service, and ERIC, to ensure accurate voter registrations. They also process reports from individual voters and return mail.

Additional topics included:

  • Preserving the integrity of drop boxes
  • Why Arizona may not have election results on Election Day
  • Protections around mail-in and absentee ballots

Transparency and Trust

Recorder Richer’s town hall provided valuable insights to attendees. His commitment to transparency, along with the robust procedures in place, showcased Maricopa County’s dedication to ensuring a secure election process.