Pillars of the Community Launches Inaugural Meeting in Arizona with Adrien Fontes, Stephen Richer

On May 14, Pillars of the Community held its inaugural meeting at the Flinn Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing together community leaders and election officials to engage in dialogue about the integrity of local election processes and the preparations for the upcoming November election. These experts addressed key questions and debunked election myths, strengthening our goal to promote transparency and allow for a firsthand understanding of the electoral process. 

• Adrian Fontes (Arizona Secretary of State) detailed his office’s oversight role and explained how Arizona’s voter registration system functions. His focus was on the transparency and security of the election process, including signature verification and voter list maintenance.
• Stephen Richer (Maricopa County Recorder) addressed critical areas like mail-in ballot protocols, signature matching, and dispelling prevalent election conspiracies. He emphasized the importance of debunking misinformation and reinforcing the integrity of Arizona’s elections.
• Lisa Marra (Arizona State Election Director) discussed the Arizona Elections Procedure Manual (EPM), providing insight into the procedural safeguards it mandates to ensure elections remain secure and reliable. She underscored the value of independent voting systems.
• Scott Jarrett & Rey Valenzuela (Maricopa County Co-Election Directors) provided a deep dive into hand-count audits, equipment redundancy, and early voting safeguards, explaining why these practices uphold election reliability and transparency.

Key Takeaways
Pillars attendees participated in a robust Q&A discussion with the election officials about Arizona’s election processes and safeguards, including: 

• A detailed explanation of the state’s signature verification process.
• How voter rolls are accurately updated and maintained.
• The role of bipartisan poll watchers in ensuring transparency.
• How election myths and misinformation are confronted by officials.

Following the presentations, Pillars members engaged in a roundtable session discussing:

• How to expand the Pillars network across the state.
• Strategies to encourage community trust in the election system.
• Plans to advocate for transparency and educate local communities on election processes.

Next Steps:

• Election Facility Tour: A tour with Recorder Richer’s office is planned for this summer, offering an on-the-ground look at election operations.

This event equipped Pillars members with vital information about election integrity, equipping them with the knowledge to share their findings about Arizona’s election system with their communities. We appreciate everyone’s participation and look forward to continuing this critical dialogue.