Republican candidates for Maricopa County Recorder have fundamental disagreements over the results of the past two county general elections, and those differences were on full display during Monday’s debate.

Incumbent Recorder Steven Richer, who took office in 2021, has defended the integrity of Arizona’s election results in the face of criticism from Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump and former gubernatorial candidate Kali Lake. He is one of the few election administrators. , both have falsely claimed that the 2020 and 2022 elections were “stolen.”

“Another thing about my office is that we follow the law,” Richer said. “Over the past three and a half years, there have been so many lawsuits filed. My office has zero losses.”

Richer’s position is in stark contrast to his primary opponents, state Reps. Justin Heap and Don Hiatt.

Hyatt repeatedly falsely claimed that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Trump.

Heap declined to say whether he believed widespread fraud affected the results of the 2020 or 2022 elections, but he cast doubt on those election results.

Heap said there are real problems with Maricopa County’s election administration, arguing that administrators like Richer did not follow state laws designed to ensure voter confidence in election results. Noting that widely publicized ballot malfunctions in 2022 led to long lines and frustration at some polling places..

“The 2022 election was a disaster from start to finish,” Heap said. “Even if it could be proven that there was no voter fraud, which is not what I am claiming, even if there was no voter fraud, the (Maricopa County) Board of Supervisors would have half the power to do it. We know that our polling places will be down, thereby disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of Arizona voters, and that, mathematically, most of the voters that day will be Republicans. Masu.”

But, as Heap acknowledged, Richer was not responsible for the Election Day issue.

In Maricopa County, the Board of Supervisors oversees Election Day and the Recorder is in charge of early voting.

Heap also said that even if Republicans were unfairly influenced by the 2022 Election Day issue, other top Republicans, including State Superintendent Tom Horn and Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who won by 11 points, He also declined to answer why he still won the election. percentage points.

Beyond the Election Day issue, Heap said Richer’s office failed to verify early voting signatures in accordance with state law, echoing Lake’s claims. Her lawsuit challenging the 2022 election failed. — and also said the incumbent registrar is not properly managing the voter rolls to ensure they are accurate and only voters receive ballots.

Heap cited anecdotes of Maricopa County residents receiving multiple early ballots, either by mail or by ballots for individuals who do not live at home. He said he wants to eliminate early voting by mail completely.

“Obviously, Election Day is the best time,” Heap said.

Richer said his office has cleaned up its voter rolls and said the number of active registered voters has increased from 2.6 million in 2021 to 2.4 million now.

“Those who talk about the voter rolls prove that it was done in line with the 200,000 number, because it’s the fastest growing county in the United States and yet it’s down 200,000 people. We have to,” he said.

Beyond these specific criticisms, much of the discussion focused on the decline in voter confidence in election results and who is responsible for that phenomenon.

Heap said Richer and other election officials have not taken seriously concerns about Maricopa County’s election system and have failed to make efforts to improve election administration transparency, leading to a decline in voter confidence. said.

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“They say ‘I don’t trust them’ because they see obvious problems and failures as systemic.” [sic] Up and down, these issues don’t seem to get fixed for multiple cycles,” Heap said.

But Richer said that’s not true.

He pointed to a series of efforts to increase transparency in the election process and educate voters about the steps the county is taking to ensure the accuracy of election results. This includes regular tours of the Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center, the county’s main election facility. Live stream of vote counting during the election. and his office’s record of responding to residents’ questions in a timely manner.

Richer said Heap, Hyatt and companies like them are undermining voter confidence by repeatedly making untrue claims that past election results have been changed due to fraud or other wrongdoing. That’s what it means.

“What’s frustrating to me is that these people, who have access to all the information and frankly say privately that they know the 2020 election wasn’t stolen, are the elected officials. “The leaders who have been criticized are going out there, harassing them and going along with them, and that’s what undermines the trust of voters,” Richer said.

Richer also blamed that rhetoric for an increase in threats of violence against election workers. Early that morning, Richie shared a video online Shelby Bush, vice chair of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, told the crowd that he intended to lynch him.

“It’s not appropriate because we know some people are taking action,” Richer said. “I know some people are making voice calls, and that’s really unfortunate. She knows better. I’m sorry for what she did.”

Heap also condemned any violence or intimidation against elected officials.

“It’s just not part of who we are as Americans,” Heap said.

Richer didn’t blame Heap or Hyatt for causing these threats, saying, “I think they’re very, very low on the list.”

Instead, Richer said there are other prominent Republicans to blame, including former President Donald Trump.

Mr. Richer voted for Mr. Trump in 2020, but said he would not vote again, and confirmed in November that he plans to vote for Mr. Biden.