♪.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS AZ VOTES 2024 SPECIAL.

"ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AFTER NOVEMBER 5, IN ARIZONA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE PROCESS OF COUNTING VOTES IN AN ACCURATE, SAFE AND SECURE MANNER.

JOINING US FOR DISCUSSION, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS STATEWIDE.

DAVID BECKER CENTER FOR ELECTION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH, WHICH WORKS WITH OFFICIALS FROM BOTH PARTIES TO ENSURE ELECTIONS VOTERS CAN TRUST.

ALSO JOINING US IS MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR BILL GATES, HELPS SET COUNTY ELECTION RULES.

ALSO A PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MECHANICS OF DEMOCRACY LABORATORY AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY'S WATTS COLLEGE.

MECHANICS OF DEMOCRACY LAB IS CO PRESENTING TONIGHT'S SHOW, AND YVONNE WINGETT SANCHEZ FROM THE "WASHINGTON POST."

SHE'S COVERED THE STRUGGLES THAT ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS NATIONWIDE FACE IN THIS CONTENTIOUS ENVIRONMENT.

PANEL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE THE STUDIO AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WELL.

SECRETARY FONTES, LET'S GET THINGS STARTED.

WE ARE HURTLING, CAREENING TOWARD ELECTION DAY, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I PREFER TO SAY IT WALKING ONE STEP AT A TIME THROUGH THE PROCESS.

ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN THIS, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE OUR VOTER ROLLS ARE IN SHAPE, WHICH MOST PLACES HAVE DONE, THAT WE GET THE BALLOTS OUT TO VOTERS AND BY VOTERS WHETHER IN MAIL OR BY PERSON, WE PREPARE FOR CONTINGENCIES THAT ARIDE IN EARLY VOTING AND BEYOND AND TABULATE AND CERTIFY.

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ARIZONA FOR A LONG TIME.

DONE IT WELL FOR A LONG TIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT IN ARIZONA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TED: SUPERVISOR GATES, ANYTHING TOP OF MIND RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE A TWO PAGE BALLOT IN MARICOPA COUNTY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006.

SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE WANT THEM TO FILL OUT BOTH OF THOSE BALLOTS AND RETURN BOTH OF THOSE BALLOTS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE SEEN IN MANY YEARS AND A REAL FOCUS OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS RIGHT NOW.

TED: INTERESTING.

YVONNE, AS FAR AS REPORTING GOES, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSING ON?

>> LOOK, I'M FOCUSING THIS WEEK A LOT ON THIS TWO PAGE BALLOT THAT SUPERVISOR GATES TALKED ABOUT.

VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE CONFRONTED WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF CONTESTS THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR WITH, AND IF THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO SHOW UP TO THE ELECTION ON ELECTION DAY AND VOTE, IT COULD CAUSE LINES, THEY'RE IN THERE A LONG TIME, CAUSE VOTER FATIGUE.

THAT CAN LEAD TO MISTAKES, LEAD TO INK SMEARING, CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS WHEN THEY'RE TOLD TO FEED THE BALLOTS INTO THE TABULATORS, IT COULD SHAKE CONFIDENCE THAT MIGHT ALREADY BE SHOOK.

TED: YES.

>> ABOUT THE SYSTEM, AND THERE COULD BE ALL KINDS OF CONSPIRACIES AND A LOT OF FALSE CLAIMS, PERHAPS, ABOUT DOOR NUMBER 3, WHICH I'M SURE WE'LL BE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND OTHER METHODS OF VOTING.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG TOPIC THIS CYCLE.

TED: DAVID, OTHER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE BALLOT, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING HERE, ARE YOU HEARING SIMILAR THINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> WHAT I'M HEARING MAINLY IS WHAT SECRETARY FONTES WAS SAYING BEFORE, FOR ALL OF THE NOISE AND DISINFORMATION THAT'S ACTUALLY FLOATING OUT THERE, THAT'S TRYING TO IMPLY THAT THE PROCESS IS CHAOTIC, TO ALMOST CREATE AN EXPECTATION OF CHAOS OF THE ELECTION AND POST-ELECTION, WE'RE NOT JUST STARTING VOTING RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 25 MILLION BALLOTS CAST ALREADY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE INCREASED A LOT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE OVER HALF OF ALL THE BALLOTS CAST BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

IF YOU LISTEN TO THE NEWS, ALL WE'RE HEARING IS THAT THIS PROCESS IS GOING PRETTY SMOOTHLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, THAT THE ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO DELIVERED TIME AND TIME AGAIN SINCE 2020, SINCE THE PANDEMIC, ARE DOING IT AGAIN, THAT THE VOTERS ARE RESPONDING ENTHUSIASTICALLY.

WE'RE NOT HEARING MUCH ABOUT LONG LINES IN PLACES, THOUGH THERE IS GREAT ENTHUSIASM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, ALL THE CAMPAIGNS, ALL THE PARTIES.

THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME, USUALLY CANDIDATES, WHO THINK THEY MIGHT LOSE WHO WANT TO DERAIL THAT OR SPREAD DISINFORMATION.

IT'S PLAYING OUT EXACTLY AS SUSPECTED.

TED: SECRETARY FONTES, THE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD, THEY'RE OUT THERE, THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE, GOING TO HANG AROUND THERE.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS THOSE FOLKS WANT US TO DISBELIEVE IN ONE ANOTHER AS AMERICANS, THEY WANT US TO LOSE THE CIVIC FAITH THAT WE HAVE THAT HOLDS OUR SOCIETY TOGETHER.

WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE ON ISSUES, THEY DON'T WANT THE SOCIETY TO FUNCTION, THEY WANT TO SEIZE THE MACHINERY OF AMERICA, AND THAT'S WHAT IS MOTIVATING ALL OF THIS.

THE REALITY IS, I THINK MOST AMERICANS, A, ARE KIND OF SICK OF THIS.

THE AUDIENCE FOR THESE THINGS IS NARROWING INTO VARIOUS LITTLE POCKETS, AND THE CLEAR EVIDENCE WE HAVE OF THAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE 2022 ELECTION.

ELECTION DENIALISTS LOST FOR U.S. SENATE IN ARIZONA, LOST FOR GOVERNOR, LOST FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, LOST FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS SPEAKING, THOSE FOLKS ARE A LITTLE LESS POPULAR.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE COMING AROUND, AND I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF FOLKS COMING TO THE REALIZATION THAT THESE THINGS ARE DANGEROUS TO THE NATURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

TO THE IDEA THAT WE CAN HAVE A POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT UNDERGIRDS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN MOVE THE REST OF SOCIETY TOGETHER, AND THEY'RE SEEING IF YOU ERODE THE POLITICAL SPACE, YOU'RE KIND OF SETTING UP THE COLLAPSE OF ALL OF THE REST OF IT, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING AROUND TO REALIZE THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

TED: SUPERVISOR GATES, ARE THEY COMING AROUND TO THAT, OR IS THAT YOU HAD A SUPERVISOR'S MEETING TODAY AND RELATIVELY EVENTFUL AND IT SEEMS THAT ELECTION DENIALISM IS FRONT AND CENTER.

ARE PEOPLE COMING AROUND AND IS THAT STILL THERE, A?

AND, B, HOW MUCH DOES IT AFFECT EVERYTHING YOU DO?

>> I AGREE WITH SECRETARY FONTES.

THE GROUP ESPOUSING THESE VIEWS, IT'S GETTING SMALLER AND THEY'RE LOUD.

THEY'RE IN FRONT OF US EVERY SINGLE DAY AT MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS, WE CAN'T GET DISTRACTED BY THE ONE.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR JOBS TO GET BALLOTS OUT TO PEOPLE, THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THE VOTE CENTERS ARE OPEN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO TRY AND LISTEN TO WHERE THEIR CONCERNS ARE COMING FROM, AND ARE THERE POSSIBLE WAYS TO ADDRESS IT.

WE, AT MARICOPA COUNTY, HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS PROVIDING THE TRUTH AND THE FACTS IN RESPONSE TO ALL THIS MISINFORMATION.

SO FOR YOUR VIEWERS WHO HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO GO TO JUST THE FACTS.VOTE, WE'VE TAKEN THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND ADDRESSED THEM LINE-BY-LINE.

MAYBE WE CAN'T WIN EVERYONE OVER, BUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE OPEN MINDS AND OPEN EARS, WE'RE SPEAKING TO THEM AND HOPE THEY'LL LISTEN TO THIS AND VOTE.

TED: YVONNE, FROM THOSE WHO HOLD IDEAS, BASICALLY UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THESE FOLKS, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

WHY ARE THEY HOLDING ONTO THIS, WHEN THE EVIDENCE SEEMS TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE?

>> A LOT OF THE CLAIMS HAVE BURROWED PRETTY DEEPLY INTO THE PSYCHE OF VOTERS HERE IN ARIZONA.

ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

I CAME BACK FROM A REPORTING TRIP RECENTLY AND REMEMBER FEELING LIKE THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE FIXED ANY TIME SOON.

IT'S A GENERATIONAL KIND OF ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

THAT'S HOW DEEPLY, ESPECIALLY IN COCHISE COUNTY, MOHAVE, UP NORTH.

IT'S JUST EMBEDDED INTO THE COMMUNITIES, IT'S THE IDENTITIES OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

WHEN YOU GET CLOSER TO THE CITIES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, I DO THINK THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF SUSPICION ABOUT THE WAY ELECTIONS ARE RUN, AND THAT'S SEEN IN SOME OF THE MEETINGS THAT THE SUPERVISORS ARE IN, BUT I DO THINK THAT WITH MORE REPUBLICANS VOUCHING FOR THE SYSTEM AND THESE PEOPLE ENCOURAGING THEIR OWN VOTERS TO GO AND VOTE EARLY AND TO TRUST THE SYSTEM, THEY'RE LISTENING TO THAT MESSAGE, AND THEY ARE RESPONDING.

THEY ARE SHOWING UP.

TED: YES, THEY ARE.

DAVID, PLEASE.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABOUT 48 MONTHS SINCE THE 2020 ELECTION, AND IN THAT 48 MONTHS, OVER 60 COURT CASES CHALLENGING THE ELECTION.

MULTIPLE DEFAMATION CASES BROUGHT AGAINST PEOPLE WHO LIED ABOUT THE ELECTION, AGAINST FOX NEWS, AGAINST RUDY GIULIANI, OF COURSE, AGAINST KARI LAKE.

AND OF ALL THAT TIME, NOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO ANY COURT AND SUBJECTED TO SCRUTINY AND CROSS-EXAMINATION, THAT WOULD JUSTIFY ANY CLAIMS THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTION THAT COULD HAVE CHALLENGED THAT ELECTION, AND KARI LAKE IN FACT, AS DID RUDY GIULIANI, CONCEALED EVIDENCE RATHER THAN PRESENTING THE TRUTH.

I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT SECRETARY FONTES SAID, THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER, BILL GATES, THEIR SCRUTINY HAS BEEN CHALLENGED AND ENVIRONMENT IS CHALLENGING DESPITE THE FACT.

TED: I WANT TO GO TO AUDIENCE QUESTION IN JUST A SECOND.

DAVID, STICKING WITH YOU, THAT ALL MAKES SENSE, AND YET THOSE CLAIMS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

THOSE BELIEFS ARE STILL OUT THERE, AND FROM WHAT YVONNE IS REPORTING, IT'S EMBEDDED.

HOW DOES IT GET THERE?

AT WHAT POINT DOES TRUTH JUST SIMPLY TAKE A HOLIDAY?

>> I WISH I COULD TELL YOU, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE A JOB IF TRUTH SATISFIED EVERYBODY.

[LAUGHTER] >> BASED ON WHAT I DO EVERY DAY.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS, IT IS NOT DRIVEN BY ELECTION POLICIES OR PROCEDURES.

NOT DRIVEN BY DIFFERENCES IN THE STATE.

IF YOU LOOK AT ARIZONA IN 2020 AND THE WAY ARIZONA VOTED IN 2020, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, ARIZONA SAW SOME OF THE FEWEST CHANGES COMPARED TO PREVIOUS ELECTIONS BECAUSE ARIZONA WAS PREPARED, BECAUSE ARIZONA HAS A DECADES LONG HISTORY OF VOTING BY MAIL.

SO THE EARLY VOTING PROCESS HERE IN ARIZONA WAS WELL KNOWN TO THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF VOTERS, UNLIKE ANY OTHER STATES.

AND YET WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE TO ARIZONA IN 2020 COMPARED TO 2016?

A DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WON THOSE RACES.

IF THE YOU LOOK AT THE CLAIMS MADE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN GEORGIA VERSUS SOMETHING WRONG IN OHIO, FOR INSTANCE, THEY HAVE VERY SIMILAR PROCEDURES WITH DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

ONE OF THE THINGS IF YOU WANT TO WIN A BAR BET.

GO AND ASK SOMEONE WHAT STATE HAD THE NARROWEST MARGIN OF VICTORY IN 2020 BETWEEN MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTH CAROLINA?

AND THE ANSWER IS NORTH CAROLINA.

NORTH CAROLINA HAD HALF THE MARGIN OF VICTORY THAN MICHIGAN IN 2020.

WHAT IS THE REASON WE ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA?

BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP WON NORTH CAROLINA AND LOST THE TWO OTHER STATES.

TED: VERY INTERESTING, QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.

>> THANK YOU, MY QUESTION IS HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO CURE BALLOTS, AND CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE PROCESS WORKS?

>> SURE, CURING BALLOTS IS SORT OF A GENERAL WAY THAT WE TALK TO REALLY WHAT IS LATE EARLY BALLOT.

IF YOU GET YOUR BALLOT IN THE MAIL, TURN IT IN ON ELECTION DAY.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING MISMATCHED ON THE SIGNATURE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A BALLOT THAT IS MISSING A SIGNATURE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT REQUIRES THE MOTIVE OF COUNTING AS MANY BALLOTS AS PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VERIFICATION.

THIS IS CURING A BALLOT.

THIS PROCESS IS SET IN STATUTE, AND THERE'S A DEADLINE AFTER WHICH WE HAVE TO STOP DOING THAT AND ALL OF THE FINAL ONES THAT GET CURED OR TABULATED.

SO THAT LASTS I THINK IT'S SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS.

>> SO IT ACTUALLY CHANGED, IT'S DOWN TO NOW FIVE, USED TO BE FIVE BUSINESS DAYS, NOW IT'S FIVE CALENDAR DAYS, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER ON, THE LEGISLATURE, THE SECRETARY.

>> SHOULD BE OBVIOUS, THE COUNTIES DO THAT.

WE DON'T DO THAT AT THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH.

THIS IS IMPORTANT WE MADE THE CHANGE IN THE LAW SO WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME IF WE NEED TO HAVE AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT, WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTOR'S VOTES ARE COUNTED IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT.

IF YOU GET A PHONE CALL FROM THE OFFICE SAYING WE NEED TO GET THIS CURED, RETURN THE PHONE CALL QUICKLY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE IS COUNTED.

>> CAN I OPEN UP ON SOMETHING?

>> SURE.

>> BILL SUGGESTED SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M SURE WE'LL GET A QUESTION ON IT.

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE REPORTING ACT PUT ARIZONA IN AN INTERESTING SPOT BECAUSE OUR THRESHOLD FOR DOING A RECOUNT HAS BEEN DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE USED TO HAVE A .2%, NOW .5% AFTER WHICH WE HAVE A MANDATORY RECOUNT.

IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WE HAVE TO DO LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTS AND A BUNCH OF PROCESSES.

WE HAD TO ACCORDION THE WHOLE CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.

IT ILLUSTRATES A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT THAT THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND OTHERS MISS OUT ON.

THERE ARE SO MANY CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE PROCESS OF VOTING.

IF, IN FACT, THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE OR THERE WITH ONE OR TWO VOTERS, IF NOT AN ILLUSTRATION OF SYSTEMIC FAILURE, IT'S ONE OR TWO ISSUES WITH ONE OR TWO VOTERS.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF ONE OF ITS GREATEST SAFEGUARDS.

TED: CHRISTINE FROM RIMROCK HAS THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> YES, CHRISTINE FROM RIMROCK.

AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2020 ELECTION, WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO KEEP THE PEOPLE COUNTING THE VOTES SAFE.

I KNOW IT WAS MORE OF AN ISSUE IN MARICOPA THAN YAVAPAI COUNTY, BUT PREVALENT AND CHAOTIC.

SO WONDERING WHAT EXACTLY IS DONE TO MAKE SURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE FOLKS IS ASSURED?

>> YES, SO THANKS FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WE HAVE INVESTED AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR TABULATION CENTER.

SO WE NOW HAVE WROUGHT IRON FENCES AROUND THE BUILDING.

WE HAVE A BADGING SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH MULTIPLE CHECK-INS TO GET INTO THE TABULATION CENTER.

WE HAVE ALSO ADDED METAL DETECTORS, AND WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL HUMAN SECURITY THERE AS WELL.

SO WE TAKE THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTION WORKERS VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON THE NUMBER OF ELECTION WORKERS THAT WE NEEDED TO HIRE, SO PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING.

TED: YVONNE I WANTED TO ASK YOU AS WELL, WHEN YOU INTERVIEW ELECTION OFFICIALS, ELECTION WORKERS, AND YOU TALK TO THESE FOLKS, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> THEY'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE.

SO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, DESPITE A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF CYCLES, THEY'RE VERY PROUD TO BE INVOLVED.

THEY SEE IT AS PART OF THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY.

I WILL SAY IN PREPARING FOR THIS ELECTION, THERE'S ALMOST -- I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT OVERPREPAREDNESS THAT'S HAPPENING -- BUT THERE ARE MAJOR STEPS THAT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE SECRETARY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE TAKING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

IT'S EVERYTHING FROM LEARNING HOW TO TURN OFFICE SUPPLIES INTO WEAPONS IN CASE SOMEONE TRIES TO STORM THE OFFICES.

IT IS LEARNING HOW TO ADMINISTER NARCAN IF YOU BECOME -- YOU GET WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE THAT COULD BE FENTANYL OR SOME SORT OF DRUG.

IT'S LEARNING HOW TO SAVE LIVES, BUT IT'S ALSO LEARNING JUST HOW TO BE SMART AND LEARNING HOW TO LOOK OUT FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES AND BE SAFE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

TED: DAVID, REPORTS ARE THAT A THIRD OF STATE AND LOCAL ELECTION WORKERS NATIONWIDE, THEY'RE OUT, THEY'RE ADIOS, THEY DON'T WANT ANY MORE OF THIS STUFF.

IS THAT A CONCERN TO YOU?

>> IT IS TO SOME DEGREE.

THERE WAS A STATISTIC THAT WELL OVER 90% OF ARIZONANS HAVE A DIFFERENT CHIEF OF ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTY THAN 2020 BUT ALMOST ALL OF THAT IS TAKEN UP BY MARICOPA COUNTY AND PIMA COUNTY WHICH RECORDED VERY, VERY STRONG REGISTRARS IN THE COUNTRY.

TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL SECURITY, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

I ALSO LOOK AT IT FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS THAT IF YOU TALK TO ADRIAN OR BILL, WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO LAW SCHOOL, I DOUBT SERIOUSLY THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ELECTION OFFICIALS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

[LAUGHTER] >> I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TALK TO ELECTION OFFICIALS, NOT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY BUSY -- [LAUGHTER] >> ALMOST ALL OF THEM GOT INTO IT BY ACCIDENT.

WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THEY FOUND A CALLING, THAT KEEPS THEM THERE, THAT SPEAKS TO THEM EVERY DAY.

I TALKED TO CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, EVERYONE IN BETWEEN, AND THERE IS A BOND ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY GET TO FACILITATE VOTERS' VOICE.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT JOB RIGHT NOW, EVEN AFTER ALL OF THE THREATS AND HARASSMENT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE THREATS AND HARASSMENT FEEL THE BOND MORE THAN EVER.

THE IDEA THAT ANY DEMOCRATIC ELECTION OFFICIAL WOULD TRY TO OBSTRUCT A REPUBLICAN WINNING ELECTION OR VICE VERSA WITH REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTING A DEMOCRATIC WIN, THAT'S FOREIGN TO THEM.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS THAT.

TED: AS FAR AS PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH AND COUNTIES ARE WORKING WITH, AND JUST THE WHOLE KIT AND KABOODLE HERE, ARE PEOPLE AFRAID, ARE PEOPLE SCARED IF THEY'RE ELECTION WORKERS?

YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.

>> YEAH, TED, I THINK PEOPLE ARE COGNIZANT OF THE POSSIBLE DANGERS, BUT I THINK IN A REAL WAY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S SO NEW IN THIS SPACE.

HOW MANY OF US FEEL 100% COMFORTABLE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, RIGHT?

YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS A NEW THREAT, AND SO THIS SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS THAN IT IS, BUT MUCH MORE THAN THAT -- AND I'LL PAIR IT WITH WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.

THESE FOLKS ARE PROUD, AND THE NEWER FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN, EYES WIDE OPEN.

THEY ARE MOTIVATED, THEY WANT TO DO THIS WORK AND WANT TO DO IT RIGHT, AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, SINCE BECOMING SECRETARY OF STATE IS A LOT OF THE NEWER FOLKS ARE REALLY REACHING OUT.

THEY'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN, HUNKERING DOWN, THIS IS MY KINGDOM DOWN HERE IN WHATEVER COUNTY IN ARIZONA OR WHEREVER ELSE.

THEY'RE REACHING OUT.

THE NETWORKS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ARE ACTUALLY STRENGTHENING.

I REMEMBER BECOMING PART OF THE NETWORKS IN 2017 AFTER I WAS ELECTED IN MARICOPA COUNTY, AND PEOPLE KNEW EACH OTHER, AND IN YOUR PROFESSION, YOU MEET PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND YOU KIND OF GET ALONG.

NOW THERE'S A BOND.

NOW THERE'S THIS COMMONALITY, THE CO-FRATERNITY OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, OF COURSE, AND IT'S A REAL THING.

I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT AND PLAY MY ROLE.

TED: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTION OBVIOUSLY, AND SECURITY FOR ELECTION WORKERS AND OFFICIALS.

SUPERVISOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BALLOTS THEMSELVES.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BALLOTS?

LET'S SAY WE'VE ALREADY VOTED EARLY.

WHERE IS OUR BALLOT?

WHERE IS IT STORED?

HAS IT BEEN COUNTED ALREADY?

IF NOT, WHEN?

IF SO, WHEN DO I FIND OUT WHEN I JOIN THE REST OF THE CROWD AND PICKING THE WINNER.

>> THE BEAUTY IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR TEXT MESSAGE PROGRAM AND SENT BALLOT IN AND IT'S BEEN RECEIVED ALREADY.

THEY MAY HAVE RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE.

IF THEY HAVEN'T, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO SIGN UP FOR THAT.

SO WE WENT AHEAD AND EARLIER THIS MONTH MAILED OUT BALLOTS TO ABOUT 80% OF THE VOTERS SO SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THOSE NOW AND PEOPLE ARE SENDING THEM BACK.

JUST YESTERDAY, WE WENT AND PICKED UP OVER 130,000 BALLOTS FROM THE POST OFFICE.

SO THEY'RE COMING IN, AND THEN THOSE ARE THEN BROUGHT IN, AND THE FIRST THING WE DO ON THE MAIL-IN SIDE IS DO THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.

WE VERIFY THAT THE SIGNATURE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GREEN ENVELOPE MATCHES THE SIGNATURE IN OUR SYSTEM.

ONCE THAT HAS OCCURRED, WE HAVE BIPARTISAN TEAMS, A REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, OPEN UP THE ENVELOPE, AND NOW WE HAVE THE BALLOT, AND THE BALLOT CAN BE HIT INTO TO BE TABULATED.

IT IS TABULATED AND ALL OF THE BALLOTS TABULATED UP AND THROUGH THE ELECTION, PEOPLE WILL HEAR THE NUMBERS REPORTED ON ELECTION NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. >> WHERE ARE THEY STORED?

>> THEY'RE STORED AT THE BALLOT TABULATION CENTER.

TED: OKAY.

>> SO BEHIND ALL OF THE PHYSICAL SECURITY.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THE PEOPLE BEING PROTECTED BUT THE BALLOTS ARE PROTECTED, TOO.

>> I THINK HE JUST SAID SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.

IF I'M DOING THE MATH RIGHT, AND I'M NOT A MATH PERSON, BUT WHAT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IS YOU ARE ON TRACK TO EXCEED 2020 NUMBERS?

>> WE WERE A LITTLE BEHIND, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE TWO-PAGE BALLOT, BUT WE'RE CAUGHT UP NOW, AND WE'RE LOOKING GOOD.

>> THAT'S CRAZY!

BECAUSE EARLY VOTING WAS THE ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY UNDER ATTACKS, ESPECIALLY MAIL-IN VOTING, IN THE YEARS SINCE 2020, AND WE HAVE EXCEEDED THAT PARTICIPATION.

>> I'LL JUST THROW IN REAL QUICK, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF THIS IS NEW VOTE OR SHIFTING VOTE, RIGHT?

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT EARLY VOTING HAPPENING NATIONWIDE -- BY THE WAY, THAT'S FANTASTIC, AND PEOPLE WANT TO READ THE TEA LEAVES, IS IT GOOD FOR DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN ON ELECTION NIGHT?

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING ON THE LAST TWO GENERAL ELECTIONS, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF LATE EARLIES, A LOT OF LATE ARRIVING MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

NO MATTER HOW BILL AND STEPHEN RICHER AND ALL OF MARICOPA COUNTY DO THEIR WORK, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, ARE PEOPLE SHIFTING -- WHICH WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING -- TO RETURNING BALLOTS EARLIER BECAUSE THAT ENABLES THE BALLOTS TO BE REPORTED OUT EARLIER.

>> TED, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNTIES IN ARIZONA THAT DO TABULATIONS ON ELECTION DAY.

MOST OF THEM ARE CENTRAL TABULATED.

WHEN ALL OF THE BALLOTS GET TO THE ELECTION CENTER, THEY DON'T LEAVE.

THEY'RE THERE.

THEY'RE SECURED, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR 15 COUNTIES HAS A VAULT WITHIN WHICH THE BALLOTS ARE KEPT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE WERE REDOING THE VAULT BACK IN MY DAYS AT MARICOPA COUNTY, THE VOLUME OF PAPER IS SO GREAT, WE HAD TO RUN A SONAR SURVEY OF THE FLOOR OF THE WAREHOUSE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE BALLOTS WITHOUT COLLAPSING THE WAREHOUSE.

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST VOTING JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IT'S A COMPLEX OPERATION.

THE VAULT IS SECURE, UNDER 24/7 CAMERA, AS ARE SO MANY OF THE REST OF OUR ELECTION CENTERS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: YOU TALK TO FOLKS THAT ARE SKEPTICAL, UP TO THE POINT OF DENIAL, THE STORAGE, THE SECURITY, THE SAFETY OF THE BALLOTS, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH TOP OF THE LIST, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S TOP OF THE LIST, AND ONCE YOU GET THEM PAST THAT, OFTENTIMES THE GOALPOSTS START TO MOVE.

LIKE THEY SAY YOU CAN'T REACH EVERYONE, YOU JUST HAVE THE TRUE BELIEVERS.

THE TRUE BELIEVERS ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, NEW VOTERS OR PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SHOWN UP AND VOTED AND PARTICIPATED FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, THEY ARE HARDENED BY THE SECURITY AND LOOKING AT IT AND BEING ABLE TO ACCESS IT AND TAKE TOURS AND SEE IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES IS ALTERING FOR THEM.

TED: DAVID, AGAIN, WANT TO GET A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE FROM YOU.

DOES ALL OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR, A, AND, B, ARE WE DIFFERENT IN SOME -- TALK ABOUT LATE EARLIES, ARE WE DIFFERENT OUT HERE?

>> SO ON THE BASICS, ARIZONA IS THE SAME.

YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE LIST IN ORDER TO VOTE, IN ORDER TO GET ONTO THE LIST, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE ID.

THAT'S FEDERAL LAW.

IN ORDER TO GET A BALLOT, YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY YOUR BALLOT THAT IS ON THE LIST OR SHOW UP AT THE POLLING PLACE AND BALLOT IS VERIFIED WHEN YOU SHOW UP AT THE POLLING PLACE OR VOTE CENTER TO VOTE OR AS BILL MENTIONED WITH THE SIGNATURE CHECK.

ALL OF THOSE ARE TRUE.

ANOTHER THING THAT IS SIMILAR WITH ARIZONA AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES, YOU HEAR THIS FROM SECRETARY FONTES, ALL OF THE PAPER BALLOTS.

ARIZONA VOTES ON PAPER, AND YOU WILL HEAR DISINFORMATION ON THIS.

95+% OF THE COUNTRY VOTES ON PAPER.

THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE WE'VE EVER HAD INCLUDING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE SWING STATES.

I'M USING SWING STATES VERY, VERY BROADLY, NOT JUST SEVEN, MAYBE 15.

THE ONLY STATES WITHOUT PAPER COMPONENT ARE STATES OF LOUISIANA AND A FEW OTHER COUNTIES.

WE HAVE THE PAPER HERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE CYBER NINJAS EFFORT IN 2021.

>> IS THAT WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT?

[LAUGHTER] >> I SAID THIS MANY, MANY TIMES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE WITH REGARD TO SECURITY, VERIFIABLITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF OUR ELECTIONS, WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN AMERICAN HISTORY HERE IN ARIZONA AND NATIONWIDE.

TED: I TELL YOU WHAT, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE RAMPING UP TOWARD THE ELECTION.

WHEN WE COME BACK FROM THE BREAK, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE VOTES ARE TALLIED AND TABULATED AND FOLKS ARE NECESSARILY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS.

YOU'RE WATCHING THIS AZ VOTES 2024 SPECIAL, "ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND."

WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND BE BACK WITH PANELISTS AND STUDIO AUDIENCE IN JUST A MOMENT.

.

TED: WELCOME BACK TO THIS AZ VOTES 2024 SPECIAL, "ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND," CO-PRESENTED BY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY'S MECHANICS OF DEMOCRACY LABORATORY.

LET'S REINTRODUCE OUR PANELISTS, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES.

DAVID BECKER WITH THE CENTER FOR ELECTION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH.

MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR BILL GATES AND "WASHINGTON POST" POLITICAL REPORTER YVONNE WINGETT SANCHEZ.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

WE'RE FEELING GOOD WHERE THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW.

SECRETARY, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND YOU CAN PICK YOUR PROBLEM, BUT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM ON ELECTION DAY, ELECTION NIGHT AND THE DAY AFTER?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, REGARDLESS WHAT PROBLEM IT IS, IN ANY OF OUR COUNTIES, WE IDENTIFY IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THE WORST THING WE CAN DO IS NOT DISCUSS OUR PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.

THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW AND SINCE WE'RE UNDER SO MUCH SCRUTINY, WE'RE GOING TO TELL THEM.

AND IN THE PROCESS OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO REMEDIATE WHATEVER ISSUES THEY MIGHT BE, WHETHER IT'S PRINTERS, WHETHER IT'S THE RATTLESNAKE IN PINNACLE PEAK PRECINCT'S PARKING LOT IN 2018.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE FIGURE IT OUT.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ALL KINDS OF NONSENSE AND THE NOISE IS GOING TO BUBBLE UP OUT OF ANYWHERE, REGARDLESS OF HOW BANAL, MINOR, TECHNICAL, LITTLE HUMAN ERROR EXISTS.

DENIALISTS ACCEPT PERFECTION AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

TED: AS FAR AS POLLING PLACES, WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION IS IN PLACE IN TERMS OF JUST SHOWING UP TO VOTE.

WE HAVE POLL WATCHERS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

WHAT CAN'T THEY DO?

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IF I GO TO THE POLLS?

>> WE WILL HAVE 246 VOTE CENTERS ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY ON ELECTION DAY.

SO LOTS OF OPTIONS, REGARDLESS WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU CAN GO TO ANY ONE OF THOSE VOTE CENTERS, SO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO LOCATIONS.MARICOPA.VOTE TO FIND THE LOCATION THAT IS CLOSEST TO THEM AND HAS THE SHORTEST LINE, TOO.

YOU WILL SEE FOLKS THERE, THAT'S PART OF DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, FIRST AMENDMENT.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE THERE, CANNOT GO WITHIN 75 FEET OF THE POLLING PLACE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY STOP, AND FROM THERE, YOU GET TO GO TO THE VOTE CENTER AND VOTE, AND LIKE YVONNE SAID EARLIER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE DONE HOMEWORK IN ADVANCE.

REVIEWED THIS BALLOT, AND THEY CAN TAKE -- THEY CAN GO ONTO BEBALLOTREADY.VOTE.

OPEN BOOK TEST, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FINE.

[LAUGHTER] >> MIGHT SPEED UP THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.

TED: INDEED.

YVONNE, WHEN YOU TALK TO FOLKS, THOSE THAT DENY, SKEPTICAL OF THE PROCESS, THOSE PEOPLE ON ELECTION DAY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONCERNS?

>> I DO THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE TWO-PAGE BALLOT AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN FOR IN-PERSON VOTERS WHO MIGHT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE, MIGHT HAVE SMUDGES, INK SMUDGES ON THE BALLOTS, TRY TO FEED THEIR PAGES INTO THE TABULATORS AND THEY'RE REJECTED, AND THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS TO PUT IT IN DOOR NUMBER 3 OR MISREAD DOOR.

THAT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL IN 2022.

IT IS A SAFE WAY TO VOTE.

YOUR BALLOT GOES INTO THAT BOX.

THE BOX IS THEN OPENED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BALLOTS ARE TRANSPORTED DOWN TO CENTRAL TABULATION, THE VOTES ARE GOING TO BE COUNTED, BUT TRYING TO UNDO THE HARM FROM A CONSPIRACY THAT STARTED TWO YEARS AGO IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING ON PEOPLE'S MINDS.

TED: DOOR NUMBER 3, IN TODAY'S SUPERVISOR'S MEETING, IS ALWAYS BROUGHT UP.

ANY TIME YOU CHANGE THE ELECTION PROCESS, IT BRINGS UP QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND DOES ANY OF THAT DIFFER FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN ARIZONA?

>> SO I THINK A GENERAL -- I'M HEARING VERY SIMILAR THINGS AS HERE IN ARIZONA.

OBVIOUSLY, THE TWO-PAGE BALLOT IS UNIQUE HERE.

MANY OTHER STATES HAVE MULTIPLE PAGE BALLOTS.

ANYONE THAT VOTED IN CALIFORNIA, IT'S TRUE, YOU GET A MULTIPLE-PAGE BALLOTS WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF RACES ON IT.

WHEN YOU GET THE VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET FROM THE STATE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PHONE BOOK.

BUT ALL THAT SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW EFFECTIVE ARIZONA'S CULTURE -- BIPARTISAN CULTURE OF EARLY VOTING IS AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT?

WE THINK OF EARLY VOTING AS A CONVENIENCE, VOTERS LIKE IT IN EVERY SINGLE STATEMENT NEVER SEEN A STATE ROLL BACK EARLY VOTING OR MAIL-IN VOTING ONCE THEY ESTABLISH IT BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ELECTION SECURITY.

EVERY ONE OF THE VOTES GETS THE TEXT MESSAGES BILL WAS TALKING ABOUT, THEY KNOW EVERYTHING IS HANDLE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DISINFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE SPREAD ON ELECTION DAY.

PROBABLY THE DAY THERE IS THE MOST DISINFORMATION.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INNOCUOUS THINGS LIKE WEATHER, TRAFFIC, POWER OUTAGES, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

WHY EARLY VOTING IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND THE FEW PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY MEANS LINES ARE SHORTER.

THE PROBLEMS ARE EASIER TO MITIGATE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

WHY, WHEN THERE WERE CAMPAIGNS AND CANDIDATES IN ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR, THAT ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST-MINUTE TO VOTE, I CAN TELL YOU FROM A CAMPAIGN PERSPECTIVE THAT IS CRAZY.

YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO TELL YOUR VOTERS TO SHOW UP AT THE LAST-MINUTE WHEN TRAFFIC COULD HIT OR COULD HAVE A FAMILY SITUATION OR WEATHER.

IN 2022, IN FACT, IN NEVADA, WHERE CANDIDATES WERE SAYING WAIT UNTIL 6:00 P.M. TO VOTE.

THERE WAS A SNOWSTORM THAT HIT IN NORTHWEST NEVADA, IN THE RENO AREA, ON ELECTION DAY AND MAYBE COST TURNOUT FOR THE CANDIDATES.

TED: AND AGAIN, DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, FIRST OF ALL, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET ELECTION RESULTS IN.

EVERY CYCLE, EVERYONE SAYS TAKES TOO LONG.

TAKES TOO LONG.

DOES IT TAKE TOO LONG?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT IT.

TAKES EXACTLY AS LONG AS IT'S GOING TO TAKE.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S EXACTLY HOW LONG WE NEED IT TO TAKE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M GOING TO DEFEND THAT BECAUSE, LOOK, HERE'S THE DEAL, WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND IN ORDER TO GET IT RIGHT, WE'VE GOT TO DO IT RIGHT.

AND IN ORDER TO GET IT RIGHT AND DO IT RIGHT, IT TAKES TIME.

WE HAVE PROCESSES.

DAVID WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLY VOTING.

IF YOU VOTE EARLY, YOU GET THE BALLOT BACK TO YOUR COUNTY ELECTION DIRECTORS BY -- WITHIN A WEEK BEFORE ELECTION DAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON ELECTION NIGHT, YOU KNOW YOUR VOTE IS TABULATED, IT'S IN.

YOU'RE DONE.

NOW AS RESULTS FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, LET'S REMEMBER, WE'VE NEVER TAKEN ONE OR TWO DAYS IN MARICOPA COUNTY OR ARIZONA TO GET RESULTS, BUT BACK IN THE DAY WHEN FOR EXAMPLE JOHN McCAIN WAS WINNING BY 20, 25 POINTS, THE MEDIA COULD CALL AN ELECTION AND FOLKS SAY OKAY IT'S OVER, BUT NOBODY WAS DONE COUNTING BALLOTS YET.

THERE WAS CURING GOING ON, STILL ALL THIS PROCESS GOING ON.

MATHEMATICALLY YOU COULD CALL IT.

THIS NEWFOUND EXCITEMENT ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES IS ONLY BECAUSE THE TAIL IS NOW WAGGING THE DOG.

THE POLITICS ARE MORE ANXIOUS, BUT THE PROCESS IS STILL SOLID.

I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN IT, THAT'S WHY WHAT I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE IS, UNTIL WE HAVE OFFICIAL RESULTS, WE DON'T HAVE OFFICIAL RESULTS, BUT YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA AND THEIR PROGNOSTICATION, IF YOU LIKE.

>> ONE THING ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER IS MARGIN.

THAT'S THE VARIABLE WHEN THE MEDIA CALLS A RACE, THE ELECTION ISN'T OFFICIAL UNTIL THE COUNTY AND STATE OFFICIALS CERTIFY IT HERE IN ARIZONA, THAT'S WEEKS AFTER THE ELECTION FOR GOOD REASON.

THE NARROWNESS OF THE MARGIN IS DRIVING THE PERCEPTION IT'S TAKING LONGER TO COUNT.

IT'S NOT.

I'M GOING TO BE WITH CBS NEWS IN NEW YORK ON ELECTION NIGHT AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO COUNT THESE VOTES.

WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE HERE IN ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CALL CALIFORNIA FOR PRESIDENT ALMOST RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE.

AND ARIZONA I ALMOST GUARANTEE WILL HAVE COUNTED A PERCENTAGE OF BALLOTS AT THAT POINT.

THE MARGIN IS MUCH BIGGER IN CALIFORNIA.

>> IN FRANCE, THEY DECLARE THE WINNER OF THE PRESIDENCY THAT NIGHT OR ARGENTINA, THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONE RACE ON THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE ON AVERAGE 79 CONTESTS ON THIS BALLOT AND UP TO 85 ON SOME OF THEM.

IT'S APPLES TO ORANGES.

>> DON'T FRANCE MY ARIZONA.

[LAUGHTER] >> CAN I WRITE THAT DOWN?

THANK YOU.

YVONNE, PLEASE.

>> ELECTION OFFICIALS, MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, SET EXPECTATIONS AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 13 DAYS TO FINISH COUNTING THAT FIRST ROUND, AND REMEMBER, WE STILL HAVE CURING, RIGHT?

WE HAVE RECOUNTS.

WE HAVE TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS ALL OVER AGAIN IF SOME OF THOSE RACES ARE AS NARROW AS SOME OF THEM WERE DURING THE PRIMARY AND IN 2022.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, ON THAT POINT.

IF WE HAD THE CURRENT AUTOMATIC RECOUNT LAW IN PLACE IN 2020, WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

SO WE COULD HAVE THAT, AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL BE COUNTING WHILE THE TURKEY AND CRANBERRIES ARE OUT.

>> LITERALLY.

THEY'RE WORKING ON THANKSGIVING DAY.

TED: INDEED, WHILE THE TURKEY AND THE CRANBERRIES ARE OUT, AS YOU DESCRIBED THERE.

ADRIAN, BETWEEN THAT AND CERTIFICATION, LET'S SAY I'M A CANDIDATE, I DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING.

I THINK I WON BY A LANDSLIDE, YOU ARE TELLING ME AND COUNTIES TELL ME I LOST.

I'M GOING TO FILE SUIT.

HOW MUCH DOES LEGAL ACTION -- THE PROCESS OF CERTIFICATION, IF IT'S DELAYED, WHAT WOULD CAUSE THAT DELAY?

WHAT ARE THE DEADLINES INVOLVED?

GIVE US AN EXAMPLE HERE.

>> WE CERTIFY THE STATE OF ARIZONA ON NOVEMBER 25, THE MONDAY BEFORE TURKEY DAY, AND WE'RE -- AT THAT POINT THERE IS SOMETHING TO CHALLENGE.

ANY LAWSUITS FILED BEFORE CERTIFICATION ARE USUALLY FRIVOLOUS AND BASED ON NOT MUCH BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE OFFICIAL RESULTS YET.

WHAT ARE YOU CHALLENGING?

YOU HAVE TO BE SUSPECT OF THAT.

WHAT THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT DID IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OUTSIDE OF ANY REGULAR CASE, BECAUSE WE AND SOME OTHER FOLKS WERE REALLY ASKING FOR THIS, IS THEY ISSUED AN ORDER THAT SAID THAT THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE CHALLENGES FILED BY X DATES, THEY'VE GOT TO FOLLOW CERTAIN STATUTES AND ALL OF THE APPEALS HAVE TO BE FILED BY DECEMBER 6.

MOREOVER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY HAVE INDICATED AND ORDERED THAT ELECTION CONTESTS HAVE PRIORITY OVER ANY OTHER LITIGATION PENDING BEFORE ANY OTHER STATE COURT.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

BECAUSE WHAT IT SAYS IS, LISTEN JUDGES -- THIS IS THE SUPREME COURT TALKING.

LISTEN JUDGES, GET THIS STUFF TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ECRA DEADLINES ARE, THEY UNDERSTAND THE STATE AND FEDERAL DEADLINES, AS TO THE ONE RACE EVERYBODY IS SO INTERESTED IN.

THE ARTICLE 2 PRESIDENCY.

THE REST OF THEM, WE CAN TAKE ALL THE TIME WE NEED.

TED: AS FAR AS DELAYS ARE CONCERNED, THOUGH, IS THERE A SITUATION?

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS COULD GO ON -- ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE GOT, I THINK COUNTY OFFICIALS LEARNED A LESSON, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

WE HAD A COCHISE COUNTY SITUATION WHERE THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT TRYING TO DELAY THE CERTIFICATION.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN?

>> I DON'T EXPECT THAT.

I THINK IT'S CLEAR.

I WAS JUST AT THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS OF ARIZONA MEETING RECENTLY IN MARICOPA.

PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T EXAMINE HOW THINGS ARE DONE.

OUR MAGIC DATE IS NOVEMBER 21, WHEN WE WILL BE CERTIFYING THE ELECTION, CERTIFYING THE CANVASS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND SEND IT TO THE SECRETARY.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> SO THIS IS -- WE THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 30 ELECTION OFFICIALS, COUNTY LEVEL, LOCAL LEVEL OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTY WHO FLIRTED WITH THIS IDEA, THEY'VE EITHER DONE IT, DELAYED, TRIED TO DO SOMETHING FUNNY AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN THAT THOSE EFFORTS FOR TEST RUNS AHEAD OF THE ELECTION CYCLE.

THERE ARE A TON OF GUARDRAILS, HOUR.

THE COURTS BEING PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

NOW I WILL SAY, ALREADY WE'RE STARTING TO HEAR PHRASES LIKE UNDER DURESS.

I WILL CERTIFY UNDER DURESS, POTENTIALLY AS A WAY TO COME BACK EVENTUALLY, PERHAPS, AND LEGALLY CHALLENGE WHY THEY HAD TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS, BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO GET INDICTED OR A VIOLATION OF THE LAW AND SOMEONE WAS GOING TO COME AFTER THEM.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, SOME SORT OF LEGAL ARGUMENT DOWN THE ROAD.

WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL?

PROBABLY NOT.

DOESN'T MEAN THOSE EFFORTS WON'T HAPPEN.

TED: WANT TO GO TO A STUDIO QUESTION FOR A SECOND HERE.

>> I'M GOING TO GO FARTHER, IT'S UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPENED.

BUT EVERY TIME IT'S FAILED.

EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE READY FOR THIS AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL.

THEY'VE ACTED SWIFTLY AS YOU ALL HAVE IN ARIZONA, AND YOU LOOK AT THE SAME THING IN GEORGIA, THE SAME THING IN MICHIGAN AND NEVADA AND OTHER PLACES AND DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THERE'S REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING I HEAR ALL THE TIME.

I'M 100% CONFIDENT THE COUNTIES ARE GOING TO CERTIFY IN ARIZONA AND NATIONWIDE.

100% CONFIDENT THE STATES ARE GOING TO CERTIFY BEFORE THE DECEMBER 11 ASCERTAINMENT.

I'M 100% COMFORT GOVERNOR HOBBS WILL ASCERTAIN THE ELECTORS BY DECEMBER 7 AND ALL OF THE OTHER STATES WILL DO SO AS WELL.

I'M 100% CONFIDENT THAT THE ELECTORS WILL MEET THE CORRECT SLATE OF ELECTORS GOVERNED BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE ON DECEMBER 17 AND ON JANUARY 6 IN CONGRESS, IN A JOINT SESSION PRESIDED OVER BY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, REGARDLESS WHETHER SHE'S WON OR LOSS, THE ELECTORS WILL BE COUNTED IN EVERY STATE AND THE WINNER WILL TAKE OFFICE.

TED: QUICKLY, NEW LAW SAYS VICE PRESIDENTS CAN NO LONGER -- THAT'S NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE, IS IT?

>> NOT AN OPTION AS OF 1789 -- [LAUGHTER] >> CONTINUES NOT TO BE AN OPTION.

THERE IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL CHEAT CODE THAT LETS THE VICE PRESIDENT SAY I DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS, LET'S HAVE A DO-OVER.

CERTAINLY WASN'T THE CASE THAT VICE PRESIDENT NIXON OR VICE PRESIDENT GORE IN 2001 MISSED THAT MAGIC LANGUAGE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THE ELECTORAL COMMENT FORMAT JUST CLARIFIES THAT.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WILL PRESIDE OVER THIS, IF SHE LOSES, I'M CONFIDENT SHE WILL PRESIDE OVER THE CORRECT ELECTORAL COUNT JUST AS IF SHE WINS.

TED: YOU NEVER KNOW.

AUDIENCE QUESTION HERE.

PLEASE?

>> I'M KAREN TAMP FROM SCOTTSDALE.

MY QUESTION IS ARE WE PREPARED TO REPEL AND ADDRESS AN ONSLAUGHT OF EFFORTS TO CONTEST THE ELECTION?

>> KIND OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT?

EXPAND.

>> I THINK THE QUESTION THAT -- RIGHT ALONG THOSE LINES, YES, WE ARE, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.

WE ARE FROM NOT JUST WHERE THE COURTS ARE AT, WHERE LEGAL TEAMS AT THE COUNTY AND STATE ARE AT, BUT REALLY I THINK THE STORYTELLING IS REALLY THE CRITICAL COMPONENT HERE, RIGHT?

ARE WE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT AND TO UTILIZE THE FOLKS IN THE MEDIA TO HELP ANALYZE AND UNDERSTAND THIS?

THAT TO ME IS AT THE CRUX OF YOUR QUESTION, AND THE ANSWER I THINK IS YES.

IN SO MANY WAYS, WE HAVE -- AND LET'S BE HONEST, WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS UNTIL 2020, AND BY THE WAY, JUST TO LEVEL SET, UP UNTIL THE ELECTION IN 2020, THIS WAS JUST SORT OF POLITICAL TALK, DENIAL OF ELECTION RESULTS AND IF I LOSE IT'S FRAUD.

THAT DIDN'T MANIFEST INTO ANYTHING.

THE FIRST RUN AND THE ONLY RUN AT TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE RESULTS OF YOUR VOICES HAPPENED AFTER THAT.

AND WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE GO AT IT.

THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY'S BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HAPPENING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND IT'S AGAIN, THE STORYTELLING.

FOLKS WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THE ANALYSIS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS.

REALLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND AND PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.

THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF -- ALWAYS REFER TO IT, THE SLOW ROLLING CIVICS LESSON WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

NOBODY REALLY CARED ABOUT ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OR ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS IN THE ROLES.

NOBODY KNEW WHO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS OR OPERATORS WERE.

WE HAD ANONYMITY.

NOT ONLY ARE WE MUCH MORE FRONT FACING BUT HAVE TO TELL THE STORY BETTER BECAUSE WE'RE MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED AND CAN READ THE PLAYBOOK AHEAD OF TIME, I THINK WE'RE OKAY.

TED: SO TO FINE TUNE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE, AFTER THE VOTES COME, IN AFTER THEY'RE TABULATED, I'M A CANDIDATE AND I DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS, I'M GOING TO SCREAM FRAUD, I'M GOING TO SAY YOU CHEATED ME OUT OF OFFICE, I'M GOING TO FILE SUIT, I'M GOING TO GO THE WHOLE NINE YARDS BUT YOU'RE SAYING THE DEADLINES ARE THERE AND WILL BE MET?

>> THE DEADLINES WILL BE MET AND LIKE SECRETARY FONTES SAID, CERTIFYING THE ELECTION STARTS THE CLOCK FOR GOING TO COURT.

I USED TO BE ELECTION LAWYER FOR THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND I USED TO DO THIS, AND I WOULD SLIGHTLY PUSH BACK ON REPELLING THE CONTEST OF THE ELECTION.

HEY, IF WE GOT IT WRONG, PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO COURT.

IF THEY CAN PRESENT EVIDENCE, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT I BELIEVE IN MY BONE MARROW IN THE RIGHT, IF WE MESSED IT UP, AND IF THE WRONG PERSON, IF WE CERTIFIED THE WRONG PERSON, GO COURT, PRESENT YOUR EVIDENCE, BUT WHEN IT'S OVER, IT'S GOT TO BE OVER.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.

>> YOU GOT TO BE PREPARED IF YOU'RE BRINGING A LEGAL CONTEST.

AS LAWYERS YOU HOLD A DUTY TO BRING CASES THAT HAVE EVIDENTIARY BACKUP.

COURTS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF HOLDING PARTIES TO EVIDENTIARY BORDERS OF PROOF.

YOU CAN'T SAY THE ELECTION IS STOLEN EVEN AS LOSE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CASE IN 2022.

YOU NEED TO PROVE BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU MAKE UP THE MARGIN SOMEHOW.

>> CAN I ADD SOMETHING?

>> SURE.

>> THE CASES GOT KICKED OUT BECAUSE OF NOT STANDING, THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES IN ARIZONA WHERE THE MERITS WERE DISCUSSED, WHETHER THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION WAS DONE APPROPRIATELY.

WHETHER OTHER PROCESSES WERE DONE APPROPRIATELY.

>> YOU GOT US ALL WORKED UP.

>> ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED STORY LINES OF THE ELECTION CYCLE IS THE NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT THEIR JOBS AND WHO HAVE TYPICALLY REPRESENTED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AND ENTITIES WHO ARE REFUSING TO DO THIS WORK.

THEIR BUSINESS MODEL NOW IS NOT REPRESENTING THESE CANDIDATES.

THEIR JOBS NOW ARE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE ADMINISTERING THE ELECTION.

AND THEY'VE LEARNED LESSONS AND SANCTIONS, REPUTATIONAL HARM.

THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE ATTORNEYS THAT WANT TO DO THAT WORK, IF IT COMES TO THAT.

>> MUCH BIGGER IDEA HERE THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS THE NOTION THAT IN DAYS PAST IN ALMOST ALL OF HUMANITY, WE TRANSFERRED POWER BY VIOLENCE OR HEREDITY OR SOMETIMES COMBINATION OF THE TWO, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CHANGED THAT, AND WE CHANGED THAT SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED NOT THE RULE OF ONE BY DIVINE RIGHT BUT THE RULE OF LAW, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE -- THE PREPARATIONS, THE PROCESS, THE DUE PROCESS, THE RULES, THE CANDIDATES BEING ABLE TO CHALLENGE IF NECESSARY -- ALL OF THIS REFLECTS THAT RULE OF LAW.

AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE THE CANDIDATE THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, YOU KNOW, CROSSING THEIR ARMS AND TAKING THEIR BALL HOME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET TO PLAY IN THE SANDBOX OR WHATEVER THE ANALOGY IS, THEY'RE ACTING AGAINST THE RULE OF LAW, UNLESS THEY BRING THEIR CHALLENGE, AND WIN OR LOSE, BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS?

WE'RE ENGAGED RIGHT NOW, ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LIVING THROUGH THAT MOMENT IN HISTORY WHERE THE RULE OF LAW IS FRONT AND CENTER.

THE PROCESSES THAT WE'RE ENGAGED AND TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

THE MOST CIVILIZED WAY THAT HUMANITY HAS EVER EXCHANGED POWER, WE'RE LIVING IT TODAY, AND IF YOU'RE NOT HOPEFUL AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE SETTING THE EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW, WITH ALL THE CONFLICT AND THE CONSTERNATION, AND ALL THE WORRY AND THE PEARL CLUTCHING, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, WE SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE CAN SIT HERE, A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, SIT AS A SOCIETY, TOGETHER TALKING ABOUT THIS, THIS IS A MOMENT WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING, PREPARING FOR SHENANIGANS, OF COURSE, BUT CELEBRATING BECAUSE IT'S A BIG DEAL.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> HERE IN ARIZONA, I'M 100% CONFIDENT 50 YEARS FROM NOW, PEOPLE WILL STILL BE WATCHING THE 2008 CONCESSION SPEECH BY JOHN McCAIN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE GREATEST IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

AFTER THE SHOW IS OVER, GOOGLE IT AND WATCH IT, MUCH MORE THAN READING THE SOCIAL MEDIA DISINFORMATION CLAIMS AND OTHER THINGS SAID IN THE WAKE OF THE 2020 ELECTION, AND IT'S A GREAT TRADITION THAT CAME OUT OF ARIZONA.

TED: WE STARTED TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION WITH WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS RIGHT NOW?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S TOP OF MIND?

LET'S PUT OURSELVES SOMEWHERE BEFORE TURKEY DAY, BUT SOMEWHERE AFTER THE ELECTION, AND DAVID, WE'LL START WITH YOU, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN?

>> SO FIRST I'LL START WITH WHAT I'M NOT CONCERNED WITH, I'M NOT CONCERNED WHETHER THE ELECTION WILL BE WELL RUN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL RUN, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN EARLY VOTING, WE'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THE WAY THROUGH ELECTION DAY.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE VOTERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I AM CONCERNED, HOWEVER, THAT DEPENDING UPON THE OUTCOME, WE MIGHT SEE AN ORGANIZED, BETTER ORGANIZED REPEAT OF 2020, AND ATTEMPTS TO INCITE ANGER AND DONATIONS AND VIOLENCE IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN ELECTION BY THE LOSER.

LISTEN CAREFULLY WHAT YOU HEAR ON ELECTION NIGHT.

WE MAY HEAR A CANDIDATE CLAIM VICTORY ON ELECTION NIGHT.

IT'S VERY POSSIBLE WE'LL HAVE THE PRESIDENT ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THE VOTING MACHINES WERE HACKED, ET CETERA, WE WON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT CANDIDATE WON OR LOST YET, BUT WE WILL KNOW WHAT THAT CANDIDATE THINKS HAPPENED.

WE WILL KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CANDIDATE'S STATE OF MIND, BECAUSE A WINNING CANDIDATE HAS EVERY INCENTIVE TO LEGITIMIZE A PROCESS THAT DELIVERED THEM A VICTORY.

THINK ABOUT THAT ON ELECTION NIGHT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE EFFORTS TO INCITE VIOLENCE.

THERE WILL BE EFFORTS, NO QUESTION, EFFORTS TO DELAY CERTIFICATION, DERAIL CERTIFICATION, TO FILE FRIVOLOUS CHALLENGES.

I'M ULTIMATELY CONFIDENT THAT ALL OF THOSE WILL FAIL, AND ON JANUARY 20, WHOEVER WINS THE ELECTION WILL HAVE THEIR HAND ON THE BIBLE.

TED: WE'RE GETTING SHORT ON TIME, YVONNE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> VIOLENCE.

I WILL BE WATCHING THE ELECTION, IF DONALD TRUMP WINS ARIZONA, KARI LAKE LOSES, ARE REPUBLICANS WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT OUTCOME?

WHAT IS THE EXPLANATION THERE?

AND HOW ARE THEY RECONCILING IT?

TED: INTERESTING, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

BEFORE CELEBRATING TURKEY DAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE WORRIED OR CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE ACCEPT THE RESULTS, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL BEEN FOCUSED ON ONE PARTY IN THE WAY ONE PARTY RESPONDED, BUT SAY DONALD TRUMP WINS, IF WE HAVE DEMOCRATS REFUSING TO ACCEPT IT, ONCE THEY PURSUED THE LEGAL REMEDIES, YOU'LL HEAR SPEAKING ABOUT BOTH WAYS AS WELL.

THIS IS ABOUT THE SYSTEM, NOT ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE.

TED: WRAP IT UP, PLEASE.

>> THE ONLY THING I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT ANY OF THESE SCENARIOS THAT MAY END UP HAPPENING, THAT AMERICANS LOSE FAITH IN ONE ANOTHER MORE THAN WE ALREADY SORT OF HAVE.

I'M WORRIED THAT THE DIVISIVENESS CONTINUES.

I'M WORRIED THAT THE CIVIC FAITH THAT HOLDS THIS THING TOGETHER CONTINUES TO SEPARATE.

THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

ELECTIONS ARE ELECTIONS LIKE BUSES IN NOGALES, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN TWO YEARS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT'S THE LAST WORD OF THIS CONVERSATION.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> PANEL, THOUGH.

STUDIO AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT AS WELL, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON" AND ON AZPBS ELECTION 2024.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.