Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes reassured the public on Tuesday that the state's election process is running smoothly, despite minor issues reported in Apache County. Fontes mentioned that the election appears to be proceeding as well as possible, with only a few hiccups along the way.
While Fontes could not confirm the reported problems in Apache County, where Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren raised concerns about voting machines being down and voters being turned away, he urged voters to remain patient and stay at the polling centers if they encounter any issues.
Katherine Belzowski, assistant attorney general of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, expressed that this year's voting problems in Apache County are the most severe they have witnessed on Election Day.
Fontes disclosed that there were only two minor incidents at polling locations statewide. One incident involved a forgotten key at a Maricopa County location, while another location in Mohave County experienced a brief power outage. However, all polling locations were operational by 6:20 a.m. local time.
Fontes also mentioned that early voting numbers are still being tallied, but preliminary data indicates a record turnout for early voting in Arizona, surpassing the figures from the 2020 election.
As the election day progresses, Fontes assured the public that his office is closely monitoring the situation and addressing any issues promptly to ensure a fair and efficient voting process for all Arizonans.
