The Maricopa County (Arizona) Elections Department will be holding a “logic and accuracy” test on tabulation equipment publicly next week. County officials explained at a press conference on Tuesday that the goal of the test is to ensure the machines are working properly to count votes accurately prior to the election.
Staffers will also be available to answer questions about the process before and after the test to clarify and address questions, according to the Recorder’s Office.
“I made it my commitment at the beginning of my term as chair that this would be the most transparent election in the history of Maricopa County. And that’s what it is, and will be,” Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates said.
“In addition to all those other things that the recorder mentioned, we have a live stream 24/7, so people are stuck at home they can still watch the logic and accuracy test on the live stream,” Gates added.
The event will take place Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m, and it will be available on a live stream (which can be viewed here); they will also provide an opportunity for those who are concerned or have questions about the process to see what’s going on.
Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer mentioned that the test, which is done before and after each election, is signed off by officials from each political party. This means that Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians officials in Maricopa County have to verify that what they saw was acceptable in the test.
Richer said that the county-level political parties are in “constant communication” with the elections department to assure that things are being done clearly. He mentioned that on Tuesday morning he met with Republican precinct committeemen from Tempe to tour election facilities.
After the numerous controversies in Maricopa County following the 2020 election, particularly due to the close results in the presidential race, the recorder said he wants to be ” as open as humanely possible” this time around. Richer was elected in 2020, and he succeeded former recorder, Democrat Adrian Fontes, who is now running for Arizona Secretary of State.
The deadline for Arizonans to register to vote is Oct. 11, as well.