Amidst the anticipation of the upcoming 2024 election, the aftermath of the 2020 election continues to haunt elections officials across the nation. The aftermath has taken a toll on these officials, leading to an increasing number of them stepping down due to threats and harassment from far-right conspiracy theorists and election deniers. One such individual, Lisa Mara, who served as the director of elections in Arizona's Cochise County for six years, was forced to leave her position after enduring relentless skepticism and threats.
Mara, a lifelong Republican, decided to quit her job last year as she could no longer tolerate the intimidation and threats she faced on a daily basis. The situation became so dire that the office had to hire armed security personnel to ensure the safety of the ballot processing staff, who feared physical harm and the potential theft of ballots. Following Mara's departure, Bob Bartlesmeyer took over as her successor.
Bartlesmeyer initially expressed skepticism about the 2020 election, sharing false claims on Facebook stating that former President Trump had won by a landslide. However, he now acknowledges that there may have been errors in the election process, but he does not believe they were significant enough to change the outcome. Ironically, Bartlesmeyer's doubts about the election made him a favorable candidate for some of the election conspiracy theorists in Cochise County who forced Mara out of her position.
However, Bartlesmeyer's tenure took an unexpected turn when he realized that he was not extreme enough for some individuals in the county who demanded a complete overhaul of the voting system, including a removal of voting machines and mail-in ballots. Recognizing that such changes require legislative action and are beyond his authority, Bartlesmeyer faced backlash from disillusioned constituents who felt he was not adhering to their demands.
After just four months on the job, Bartlesmeyer resigned, citing a desire for less drama at his age. Similar stories have emerged from election workers across the country, such as Jerry Rohl, a former Trump supporter who left her election job in another Arizona county last year. Rohl, who had previously worked in the court system, expressed distress over the mistreatment and disrespect she experienced as an election worker.
The harassment faced by election officials has become a significant reason for their resignations, with over 160 local election officials leaving their positions since November 2020 across 11 Western states. Such officials are increasingly burdened with dealing not only with general misinformation regarding elections but also direct personal attacks.
The rise of election conspiracy theorists becoming election officials in some small counties has raised concerns among supervisors like Republican Bill Gates in Arizona's largest county. Gates emphasizes the importance of experienced election workers and voices his concerns over the potential impact of conspiracy theorists on the integrity of the electoral process.
Despite the tumultuous atmosphere surrounding the aftermath of the 2020 election, Bartlesmeyer has recently returned to his previous election job in a different Arizona county, where he claims to no longer face harassment. He expresses regret over sharing the Facebook posts containing false claims and emphasizes the need to move forward and trust the election certifications and processes authorized by the secretaries of state across the nation.
Regardless of political affiliations or outcomes, Bartlesmeyer believes that voters should retain trust in the 2020 election and the electoral process as a whole to maintain the faith in democracy.
As the nation looks ahead to the 2024 election, the experiences of election officials like Lisa Mara, Bob Bartlesmeyer, and Jerry Rohl serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by those responsible for upholding the integrity of our electoral system.
