PHOENIX — Maricopa County elections leaders are pleased with how Tuesday's Presidential Preference Election ran.
Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said the state's largest county saw about 30,000 voters show up in person to vote on Tuesday after receiving about 540,000 early ballots. On Tuesday night, the number of early ballots dropped off on Election Day was not yet available.
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By the first release of results at 8 p.m., Maricopa County had tabulated all of the early ballots.
"We may come in somewhere above 40%, something like that. I think all in all, that's pretty good participation," Gates said. "So much has been said about challenges in our elections over the past few cycles. But one of the real bright lights that we have had has been the high voter turnout and I would say given the fact that these were not really competitive primaries, still pretty darn good turnout numbers."
Changes stemming from 2022 printer problems seen in action
Tuesday marked the first official time improvements made following the 2022 election were seen in action.
In 2022, printer issues impacted some voting centers in Maricopa County. An investigation conducted by former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor concluded that some older printers were not printing ballots with dark enough ink and therefore, those ballots could not be read by the on-site tabulators. Ballots were instead taken back to the Maricopa County Elections Center where they were counted.
All legal votes were successfully tabulated, however the issue led to frustration for some voters.
Following McGregor's investigation, the county purchased new printers, added more testing in advance, and purchased new high-speed tabulators.
Gates said there were no problems, including with printers, on Tuesday.
"This was just such a wonderfully run election, very smooth. I really can't point to any particular issues. We had basically almost no lines all day long. And still, to be able to have 30,000 people come in vote in person is really a testament to the team and Maricopa County elections," Gates said.
In the hours following the polls closing Tuesday, memory cards from each voting center will be brought to the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) and those results will be updated throughout the night. After that, the next vote total update will come on Thursday.
Gates said following Tuesday's election, staff will be meeting to discuss what went well, along with any unexpected challenges to prepare for July's primary election followed by November's general election.
"We always learn something and I think because of some of the changes that you're well aware of from 2022, this was an opportunity for everyone to see that in action. And I would say we're very pleased. I think I can speak on behalf of my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and Recorder Richer that we're all very pleased with how it's gone today," Gates said.
Security at MCTEC will also remain a high priority this year. The building was surrounded by fencing Tuesday with multiple security checkpoints and a metal detector inside. Maricopa County sheriff's deputies also patrolled the exterior of the building.
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