On Monday, following delay after delay, the MAGA-controlled Cochise County, Arizona, board of elections missed its deadline to certify 47,000-plus (mostly conservative) votes. The move was seen by most as pure political theater from a deep-red county which has swallowed the Big Lie election denialism hook, line, and sinker. Like all political theater, this will cost taxpayers money.
Before two MAGA-conspiracy theorists who don’t trust “any computers” failed to do their part to certify their constituents’ votes, Arizona State Elections Director Kori Lorick explained that there was no evidence of impropriety in the 2022 midterm elections, and “the secretary will use all available legal remedies to compel compliance with Arizona law and protect Cochise County voters’ right to have their votes counted.”
Late on Monday, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who will be the state’s next Democratic governor, sued the Republican-controlled county for refusing to do its job. The fact that this move does not help Democrats get more votes seems lost on the fake-triots in Cochise County. However, as people have begun to point out, not only is this quixotic conspiracist’s adventure going to be financially costly for Arizonans, the Republican Party officials behind it are putting a lot of conservative constituents’ votes in jeopardy. “Lorick wrote in a letter last week that Hobbs is required by law to approve the statewide canvass by next week and will have to exclude Cochise County’s votes if they aren’t received in time. ” You know what that means? Yes. It means exactly what you think it means.
RELATED STORY: MAGA-controlled Arizona county fails to certify election results by deadline
