Calls grow in Arizona for new election after Kari Lake "loses" in extended recount following widespread polling station problems on Election Day
By jdheyes // 2022-11-21
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Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is not the only one who believes the extensive problems at polling stations around Phoenix on Election Day earlier this month are grounds for holding a new election after her alleged 'loss' to Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs, who did not campaign much, refused to debate Lake, and, as secretary of state, led the office in charge of balloting. According to a press release from the group U.S. Election Integrity Plan, an "open letter authored by Arizona citizens calling for a new election continues to be circulated throughout Arizona. Citizens are demanding the new election is run without electronic voting equipment and mail-in ballots. Arizona citizens are proving to be a persistent, powerful force." The press release adds: Key excerpts from the letter clearly express the seriousness and commitment of the Arizona citizens, “We the people of Arizona deserve better, and we demand better. We demand transparent, free, and fair state elections.”  There is no confusing the citizens stance on the ground, “Elections belong to the People. Stolen elections are illegitimate.” The letter closes with a promise, “[citizens] will peacefully descend on Arizona until the new election is conducted.” The release goes on to state that Arizonans have taken it upon themselves to begin sharing the letter via email, and by calling officials and posting it to social media in order to put additional pressure on "officials, legislators, candidates, and law enforcement." One deadline has already passed for officials to stand with concerned Arizonans who support a new election, but the objective is to convince officials to act before the election for governor is officially certified -- by Hobbs' office, no less. "It appears the citizens of Arizona are on a roll and getting a boost in shaping a viable solution. Kari Lake and Charlie Kirk have both shown support for a new election specifically in Maricopa County," the press release stated, referencing Turning Point USA founder and CEO Kirk. One local official who won his Queen Creek School District election is on board with a new vote. "It's great I won," said James Knox. "But I was concerned with what I saw on Election Day. The vote totals went up as expected, but the percentage of votes going to each candidate in my race never changed – they stayed at 26%, 36%, and 39%. This doesn’t make sense." The press release adds: A whistleblower election judge from Maricopa County Michelle Swinick is also calling for a new election. Her first-hand accounts are shocking. The number and variety of legally mandated processes and rules having been being broken, circumvented, and outright disregarded likely rise to the legal threshold required to nullify the election in Maricopa County. Swinick has filed affidavits and is actively working on legal remedy, including potential criminal investigations. She believes she (and other judges) may have been unknowingly forced to participate in election crimes by following their election judge training, following managers’ directions, and doing their jobs within corrupted voting centers. In a post-election interview this week, Lake noted that predictions she made about election problems wound up coming true. "I can't imagine our version of Joe Biden, Katie Hobbs, would win. She didn't campaign, she hid in her basement. She is a twice-convicted racist," Lake told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Wednesday. "I can't believe the people of Arizona would vote for her and that she would win. But if that what's happens at the end of the day, how do you certify an election that is this botched? And she's the one that would certify her own election where it was botched. Where the machines didn't work in more than a third of the polling centers," she explained. "We had lines that were three and four hours long in retirement areas, where people were old. And all of this happens in Republican areas. My area, where I was going to vote, the printer didn't work. There wasn't enough toner in the printer. So I went to a liberal part of town and got right in and out in about 15 minutes. It's funny how that works in Arizona," Lake added. Sources include: RealClearPolitics.com USEIP.org
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