Razor wire. Thick black iron fence. metal detector. armed security guard. Bomb sweep.

Security at the center, where workers are counting ballots, mirrors that seen at airports and even prisons. And plans are in place to further beef up security, including drones, police on horseback and police snipers on rooftops, if necessary.

Maricopa County was at the center of conspiracy theories in the 2020 presidential election as Donald Trump promoted baseless claims of voter fraud when he lost the state to Joe Biden by less than 11,000 votes. It became the earth.

Falsehoods spread, armed protesters flooded the building where ballots were being counted, and a flurry of lawsuits and audits aimed at challenging the results.

The aftermath of the election changed the way local officials handled the normally mundane process of counting votes, ushering in a new era of tight security.

“We’re treating this like a big event like the Super Bowl,” Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner told the BBC.

Skinner said the county, the fourth most populous in the nation and home to about 60% of Arizona voters, has been planning its elections for more than a year.

The sheriff’s department is responsible for security at polling places and vote counting centers. Lawmakers are now receiving training in election laws that most law enforcement agencies are unfamiliar with.

Asked about increased security measures such as drones and snipers, he said: “Our hope is that the need for them is not as great.” “But we are prepared to ensure that we meet the necessary levels and ensure the safety and security of that building and its employees.”

The election process here is in many ways the same as in counties across the country. Ballots are dropped off at vote centers and taken to a center in Phoenix equipped with new tabulation machines. If mailed, your ballot will be inspected and your signature verified. They are counted in a meticulous process involving two workers from different political parties to sort them and inspect them for mistakes.

This process will be live-streamed 24 hours a day.

While much of this process remains the same, many other things have changed. Since the 2020 election, new laws have been passed that make it easier to call recounts in states. Previously, if a race was decided by a narrow margin of 0.1% of the votes cast, a recount would be held. That has now been raised to 0.5%.

The counting center now has surveillance cameras, armed guards and double fencing.

A thick canvas covers one of the fences to prevent prying eyes. Officials claim the canvass was an additional measure to protect employees from harassment and intimidation outside the building.

“I think it’s sad that we have to do something like this,” Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said.

Gates, a Republican, has said he was diagnosed with PTSD after the 2020 election after receiving election threats, but will not run again after this election, citing nervousness.

“When people go to the polls, I want them to understand that this is not a military zone,” he told the BBC. “I feel safe going there with my family and my children and participating in our democracy.”

The county has invested millions of dollars since 2020. It’s not just about security. Currently, they have a communications team of 30 members.

A big focus has been transparency, with hours of livestreaming of tabulation machine tests, dozens of public tours of the building, and recruiting staff to challenge online rumors and election conspiracies. There is.

“We kind of flipped a switch,” Assistant County Commissioner Zach Shira told the BBC, explaining after the previous decision: There is only one theory out there. ”

It all led to Tuesday’s election.

“We may be overprepared, but we’d rather prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” said Sheriff Skinner.

Some Maricopa Republicans told the BBC they have been following recent changes and feel there will be fewer problems this election cycle.

“They’ve taken steps that I think will help,” said Garrett Ludwick, 25, who recently attended a rally in Scottsdale for President Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance.

“More people are aware of things now, and there’s going to be a lot of people watching everything like hawks,” he said, wearing a Trump hat that read “Make Liberals Cry.” said.

One Republican voter, Edward, told the BBC that the 2020 cycle had inspired him to get more involved. He’s currently registered for two shifts at a Maricopa County polling place on Tuesday.

“Going to rallies and being agitated won’t solve the problem,” he says. “I wanted to be part of the solution.”

Not everyone is convinced.

“I still believe there was rigging,” said Marisa Myers, 55, who, like some Republican voters, said her distrust of the election process runs so deep that she doubts the election was fair. He said he couldn’t believe it. “It’s very hard to trust anyone today.”

Results in Arizona often depend on Maricopa County, and the county plays a large role in the outcome. Officials here estimate it could take up to 13 days to count all the ballots, meaning the battleground state’s expected close race may not be called on election night. It means something.

“The whole world could be watching to see what happens in Maricopa County in 2024,” said Shira, the assistant county manager.

“This may be the end of the world’s faith in democracy.”