Podcast Summary
A challenging election day for Maricopa County election officials: The 2020 election saw unprecedented protests and disruptions, leading to increased harassment and threats towards election workers.
The 2020 election was unlike any other for election officials, particularly in Maricopa County, Arizona. Steven Richer, the top election official in the county, shares his personal experience of election day, where he spent the entire day voting and interacting with voters, only to find himself down significantly in the early results. What made this election unusual was the unprecedented volume of protests and disruptions outside the tabulation center, fueled by baseless claims of election theft. This level of denialism towards the election results has led to an unprecedented volume of harassment and threats towards election workers, making their job more challenging and contentious than ever before.
US Elections 2020: Controversies and Confrontations: The 2020 US elections were marred by allegations of voting irregularities and disputes over results, leading to protests and calls to stop the count. Unexpectedly thrust into the center of the controversy, the speaker won the election but was left grappling with misinformation and chaos.
The 2020 US elections were marked by widespread allegations of voting irregularities and disputes over the results in several key states. This led to heated protests and confrontations outside election offices, with some people calling for the count to be stopped. The speaker, who was seeking to hold office in one of these contested states, found herself unexpectedly thrust into the center of the controversy. She was surprised and disturbed by the militant and confrontational behavior of some voters, including figures like Alex Jones, and the immediate sensationalization of the situation. Despite the challenges, she eventually won the election, but was left grappling with the misinformation and chaos that surrounded the process. Terms like "fractional voting" emerged as theories explaining the perceived irregularities, adding to the confusion and complexity of the situation.
Addressing conspiracy theories about election results: Acknowledge concerns, provide accurate info, and foster open dialogue to maintain trust and confidence in democratic processes.
As a newly elected official, I'm facing various conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election results, which range from fractional voting to Sharpie pens causing over votes, to tabulation equipment being connected to the Internet, and even unlawful votes being imported from other countries. These theories, though seemingly preposterous, are deeply held beliefs among some of my supporters. I took these concerns seriously, investigating them thoroughly to understand where they were coming from. However, I later learned that providing explanations wasn't enough to change their minds. The theories keep evolving, and it's essential to address them in a way that maintains respect and trust while also being truthful. I believe it's crucial to acknowledge the concerns, provide accurate information, and foster an environment of open dialogue. By doing so, we can work together to ensure confidence in our democratic processes and move forward as a united community.
Politician's truthful decision faces backlash: Politicians face pressure to conform to narratives, even if it means compromising the truth, which can lead to intense backlash.
During a speaking engagement in early 2021, a politician was faced with a difficult decision: tell the truth about the tabulation machines being used in the election, which could result in backlash from conspiracy theorists, or collude with them for political expediency. The politician ultimately chose to tell the truth, despite the potential consequences. This decision led to intense verbal harassment, including accusations of being an idiot, bought off by Soros, and a fake Christian. The situation escalated to the point where people followed him out of the event and banged on his car windshields. Despite these challenges, the politician continued to attend similar events, having spent the previous two years building relationships within the Republican community. This experience highlights the pressure politicians face to conform to certain narratives, even if it means compromising the truth.
Maricopa County Election Controversy: A Hotbed for Conspiracy Theories: The 2020 Maricopa County election became a center of conspiracy theories and accusations of fraud, leading to uncomfortable situations for election officials and an unnecessary investigation by the Arizona Senate, escalating into an international issue.
The 2020 election in Maricopa County became a focal point for conspiracy theories and accusations of fraud, leading to uncomfortable and even dangerous situations for the county's election officials. The Arizona Senate, controlled by Republicans, chose to pursue these theories instead of accepting the results, hiring a company with no election expertise to conduct an audit. This investigation, led by the Cyber Ninjas, attracted significant funding and attention from those promoting the "Stop the Steal" movement, turning Maricopa County into the center of the controversy. Election officials, including the county recorder, were directly threatened and forced to retreat from Republican meetings. Despite the lack of evidence for fraud, the investigation continued to escalate, drawing in state legislators from other states and becoming an international issue.
Maricopa County Elections Office under Scrutiny: Despite facing intense scrutiny, threats, and allegations, Maricopa County Elections Office Recorder Stephen Richer refused to step down, viewing the challenges as an opportunity to strengthen his commitment to fair and competent elections.
The Maricopa County Elections Office, under the leadership of Recorder Stephen Richer, faced intense scrutiny and threats during the 2020 election audit. The Cyber Ninjas investigation, backed by the Arizona Senate, accused the office of deleting files related to the election, leading to widespread public outcry and harassment. Recorder Richer pushed back against these allegations, but the backlash included explicit death threats. Despite the danger, Richer did not consider stepping down from his position, viewing the challenges as an opportunity to strengthen his commitment to fair and competent elections. The threats were not limited to him, with even non-public facing employees receiving similar correspondence. The situation underscores the intense emotions surrounding election processes and the need for robust security measures to protect those involved.
Arizona's 2022 midterms focused on election denialism: County Recorder Carrie Lake addressed concerns of business and professional classes, but election denialism's popularity made candidates popular, leading to primaries focused on the same issues
The 2020 election and the subsequent election denialism became a dominant theme in Arizona politics, particularly during the 2022 midterm elections. County Recorder Carrie Lake, who was at the center of the election controversy, shared her perspective on the situation. She had hoped that the passion and energy surrounding the election denialism would dissipate over time, but it continued to be a critical part of the discourse. When candidates who embraced election denialism began seeking the Republican nomination, Lake believed it was important to pause and address the concerns of the business and professional classes within the party who felt their votes didn't count. However, the base's commitment to election denialism made these candidates popular, and the investigation into the 2020 election almost guaranteed that the next election would be about the same issues. As these candidates traveled the state and fomented more division, preparing logistically for the primaries became a significant challenge.
Preparing for elections with anticipated claims of fraud: Significant security measures and resources are needed for elections with anticipated fraud claims, but the election of election deniers to office could create a catch-22 situation, potentially harming the office and democracy.
Preparing for elections with anticipated claims of fraud requires significant security measures and resources. The Maricopa County elections in the August primaries were technically successful, with ballots distributed on time, accurate printing, and high voter participation. However, claims of fraud and harassment of employees were rampant, leading to a challenging environment. The election of election deniers to statewide offices adds to the uncertainty, creating a catch-22 situation. While it may reduce harassment if these Republicans win, it also signals potential acceptance of election denialism, which could harm the office and democracy as a whole. A more contemplative perspective suggests that it might be in the office's best interest if these Republicans lost.
Denialism and election falsification claims may persist despite losses: The profitability of denialism and election falsification claims incentivizes their continuation in Republican candidacies, but consistent losses may eventually lead to their decline.
The denialism and election falsification claims, which have become a central feature of some Republican candidacies, may only fade away if these candidates start to lose consistently in elections. The speaker believes that the profitability of such false claims, both politically and financially, incentivizes their continuation. However, the speaker expresses hope that there may be other ways to address this issue. The conversation also touched upon the speaker's frustration with the normalization of extreme behaviors and the loss of friendships due to political differences. The speaker's tone seemed to change towards the end of the conversation, possibly due to an upcoming meeting about legal advice that they were not looking forward to.
Running elections in today's climate is demanding and contentious: Despite the pressure, Maricopa County officials continue to run elections amidst lawsuits and harassment. Meanwhile, political developments in Britain and China highlight the complexity and diversity of global political systems.
Running an election in today's political climate is a challenging and exhausting task. The Maricopa County election official in the interview shared that they have faced numerous lawsuits and public records requests, creating an environment where staff members are constantly under scrutiny and harassment. This constant pressure raises questions about the limits of what a system and its people can endure. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, political developments continue to unfold. In Britain, Rishi Sunak is set to become the first prime minister of color in British history, while in China, Xi Jinping has secured an unprecedented third term as the country's leader, eliminating term limits and paving the way for a potential lifetime in power. These events underscore the complexity and diversity of political systems around the world and the challenges they face.
