Maricopa County Issued Voter Survey Just Before State Certified Election Results

Maricopa County Issued Voter Survey Just Before State Certified Election Results

by | Dec 7, 2022 | News

By Corinne Murdock |

Maricopa County wants to know how voters feel about this most recent general election. The survey was issued a few hours before the state certified the election results on Monday. 

The Monday email from the Maricopa County Elections Department asked voters to describe their voting experience, how they voted, and if they felt informed on election procedures. The county asked voters impacted by Election Day problems the reason for their dissatisfaction, as well as where they voted. They also asked voters if vote centers rather than precinct-based locations made voting more convenient.

TAKE THE SURVEY

In some ways, this general election echoed the voter discontent and mistrust that arose following the 2020 general election. The embattled county has attempted to address the myriad claims of fraud arising from a chaotic Election Day prompted by faulty printer settings causing mass tabulator failures. The county reported last month that they’ve shared over 700 social media posts, conducted over 600 interviews, and submitted monthly newsletters to 40,000 subscribers this election. 

During its certification of the election results, the county specified further that faulty heat settings on retrofitted ballot-on-demand printers were to blame.

The attorney general’s office questioned the county about these mass failures and reported complaints of disenfranchisement. About a week later, the day before the deadline set by Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Wright, the county answered with a report.

The county’s troubles began earlier this year when doubts over the pens used for in-person voting resurfaced. The county swapped Sharpies for Pentel felt-tipped pens in July.

The changes prompted some activists to encourage rejection of the county’s protocol. Failed board of supervisors candidate Gail Golec advised voters to steal election pens in August. The county responded with a cease-and-desist letter to Golec.

Election officials have reported that both the ink and felt tip pens pose problems. Occasionally, ink pen residue clogs the machines, and felt tip pen ink smears, causing ballot rejection, or the nibs break off.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

New Survey Shows Strong Support For Tax Reform

New Survey Shows Strong Support For Tax Reform

by | May 22, 2021 | News

A new survey showing that the vast majority of Arizonans support reducing the personal income tax rate was released this week by Americans for Prosperity-Arizona. Voters believe a tax reduction is important to spur economic growth and allow Arizonans to keep their own money, according to the survey.

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Arizona has one of the highest marginal income tax rates in the country. Arizona also has a nearly $4 billion surplus for the 2022 fiscal year.

Americans for Prosperity-Arizona (AFP-AZ) is supporting a plan that would reduce the state personal income tax rate to 2.5% for all taxpayers, except for the highest bracket who will pay 4.5%, beginning in 2023,

AFP says the topline results of the survey demonstrate the following:

• Nearly two-thirds of Arizona voters believe it is time to reduce the personal income tax to make it flatter and fairer.

• 66% of surveyed voters said it’s very important to allow Arizona families to keep more of their own money, in addition to 62% saying it’s very important to allow small businesses to pay less in taxes so they can use their own money to grow and create jobs.

• Ensuring Arizona remains competitive with nearby states who have no income tax was also another reason surveyed voters supported reducing the income tax rate, with 53% of surveyed individuals saying that’s a very important reason as they considered the proposal.

“While Washington is working to pass some of the largest tax hikes in history, our state leaders are taking a different approach by letting Arizonans keep more of what they earn. Government digging deeper into our pockets won’t help small businesses hire more workers or meet the needs of Arizona families,” says AFP-AZ State Director Stephen Shadegg.

“Arizonans support this this pro-growth plan that would cement our state as a leader on tax reform and ensure we remain competitive with nearby states who don’t have an income tax. We are connecting with Arizonans across the state to tell them about this plan and enable them to tell their legislators they need to act now. We look forward to igniting Arizona’s economic recovery by making our tax system simpler, fairer, and flatter,” concluded Shadegg.