Last Updated on February 10, 2021
In the latest in Arizona election integrity updates, the Maricopa Libertarian Party is suing the county’s Board of Supervisors, alleging they were illegally excluded from a post-election audit.
Following credible allegations of rampant voter fraud in Arizona, and across the country, during the recent elections in November last year, the Arizona State Senate demanded that Maricopa County issue a full forensic audit of the Dominion Voting machines, software, and systems used in the county.
The audits began on February 2, and included observers from the Arizona House and Senate, along with registered Independents. However, the Libertarian Party was not included in the proceedings, despite being the third party whose candidates are eligible to appear on election ballots in Arizona. As a result, the Maricopa Libertarian Party is suing the county’s Board of Supervisors, and the County Recorder, Stephen Richer.
“Political party observation is a right that is included in every part of Arizona election law,” said Michael Kielsky, the attorney representing the Libertarian Party. “It is inexcusable that the county is preventing the Libertarian Party observer from attending the audit.”
BIG NEWS FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY *TRANSPARENCY*!
It would be great if the @MaricopaGOP and @AZGOP joined in on this suit
Transparency is critical for a legitimate audit! https://t.co/6u64s2koAn
— Merissa Hamilton (@merissahamilton) February 10, 2021
The lawsuit notes that in a public notice still available on the Maricopa County website, that the Board of Supervisors promised not only would “leadership from both the House and Senate” be involved, but also “members of all three political parties” would be too. In fact, no official party representatives from any party were involved.
In a press release, Brandon Slayton, the chairman of the Maricopa Libertarian Party, said that given “Arizona political parties have been involved throughout the election,” and should continue to be involved now, included the Libertarian Party. “It doesn’t make sense to omit key stakeholders when the audit’s goal is to instill public confidence in our system,” he added.
An email sent to Slayton on Monday from the County claimed that the parties could not be accommodated due to limited space because of coronavirus, yet they still invited “The League of Women Voters,” a left-wing advocacy group to come along and observe proceedings.
“The League of Women Voters is a great organization” Slayton said, “but it cannot be a substitute for representation by political parties, which provide scrutiny and oversight for all their members. The public should be outraged that all three parties are being denied the right to attend this audit.”
The lawsuit also argues that the audit is being misrepresented, with Maricopa County claiming that a “Logic and Accuracy Test” can see if votes changed. “The county has every right to conduct a Logic & Accuracy Test,” Slayton added, “but it is a test, not an audit, and only proves that the machines are working properly at that moment in time. The county has a right to do something but it does not have a right to pretend to do something.”
