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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS AZ VOTES 2024 SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT WE FEATURE A DEBATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

PROPERTY DOCUMENTS AND GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION, THE OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS AND ADMINISTERING EARLY VOTING.

CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN 60 SECONDS TO REPLY TO QUESTIONS AND TIME FOR REBUTTALS.

INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, DON HIATT, SPECIALIZES IN I.T.

TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, AND JOINING US IS STEPHEN RICHER WHO CURRENTLY SERVES AS MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

GET THINGS STARTED WITH OPENING STATEMENTS AND IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE BEGIN WITH DON HIATT.

>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS DON HIATT.

I SPENT THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS TRAVELING AROUND THIS COUNTY, AND ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, PEOPLE ARE PISSED OFF AT HOW THEIR ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN RUN.

I HAVE 38 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND THEN TURNING AROUND AND SPEAKING GEEK TO DEVELOPERS TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS.

I SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND MARICOPA COUNTY HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ELECTIONS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.

I -- MY -- I -- TED: ARE YOU OKAY?

WE CAN GO ONTO STEPHEN RICHER IF YOU LIKE.

>> NO, I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE THINGS TO SAY.

TED: TAKE YOUR TIME.

>> I'M A FIFTH GENERATION ARIZONAN, AND I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO MY WIFE FOR 30 YEARS, WE HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS AND I'VE GROWN UP IN THE TEMPE, CHANDLER OR MESA AREA AND HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN.

I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY AS THE COUNTY RECORDER TO HELP RESTORE FAITH IN OUR ELECTIONS.

TED: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW WE TURN TO STEPHEN RICHER.

>> THANK YOU, DON.

I'M STEPHEN RICHER, I'M THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC RECORDS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND FOR MAIL VOTING FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF MARICOPA COUNTY.

I'M A LIFELONG CONSERVATIVE WITH A RECORD OF GETTING THINGS DONE.

GOIT THINGS DONE AS AN ATTORNEY, GOT THINGS DONE AS A BUSINESSMAN, THAT EXPERIENCE ALLOWED ME TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WHEN I TOOK OFFICE AS RECORDER IN JANUARY OF 2021.

OVER THE PAST 3 1/2 YEARS, MY TEAM HAS DONE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF THINGS.

WE'VE DONE THE LARGEST EVER VOTER ROLL CLEANUP.

WE'VE BUILT MARICOPA TITLE ALERT TO PREVENT AGAINST DEED FRAUD.

WE'VE EXPANDED BALLOT TRACKING SERVICES ON EARLY VOTE BY MAIL, AND WE'VE DONE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT TO EXPAND TRANSPARENCY SUCH AS ELECTION TOURS, SUCH AS LIVE STREAMS, SUCH AS TELE-TOWN HALLS.

FOR THIS REASON, THIS GETTING THINGS DONE IS WHY I'M ENDORSED BY GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY, GOVERNOR JAN BREWER AND LONGEST RECORDER IN MARICOPA COUNTY HISTORY, HELEN PURCELL.

STEPHEN, WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB AGAIN?

YOU'VE BEEN THREATENED, ACCUSED OF CRIMINAL ACTS BY FELLOW REPUBLICANS, WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS?

>> THIS OFFICE IS AT THE CENTER OF TWO FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT RIGHTS.

THE RIGHT TO OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHICH IS A RIGHT THAT MANY HAVE FOUGHT FOR, MANY HAD THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY, AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN OUR RECORDING OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, MOST OF WHICH RELATES TO REAL ESTATE AND, OF COURSE, THE RIGHT TO VOTE, WHICH I DON'T THINK MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHERE IT FIGURES IN INTERNATIONALLY.

THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER SO THE VALUE PROPOSITION HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER FOR ME.

I CONSIDER IT A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND THE FUTURE OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, AND OF ALL THE TOWNS IN ALL THE WORLD, MARICOPA COUNTY IS FACTORING IN THAT CONVERSATION PROMINENTLY.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

I WANT TO SHOW NOT JUST TO THE STATE, BUT TO THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD THAT ARIZONA AND MARICOPA COUNTY CAN DO THINGS RIGHT AND THE 'CAUSE DO THINGS RIGHT.

>> DON, SEEING WHAT STEPHEN RICHER HAS GONE THROUGH AS MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER, AND THE BRICKS, BATS AND LIGHTNING RODS, WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

>> I RETIRED WITH A WOOD SHOP AND WORK IN MY GARDEN.

EARLY PART OF THIS YEAR, GOD PUT IT IN MY HEART TO RUN FOR THE RACE BECAUSE HE TOLD ME I NEED TO HELP DO SOMETHING FOR THE COUNTRY.

WE WATCHED DISASTER AFTER DISASTER WITH ELECTIONS AND GOT TO FIX THAT.

SO THAT'S THE MAIN REASON THAT I'M RUNNING FOR THIS RACE.

TED: WHEN YOU SAY DISASTER AFTER DISASTER, EXPLAIN PLEASE.

>> THE 2020 ELECTION WAS NOT THE MOST PERFECT ELECTION WE'VE EVER SEEN.

THE 2022 ELECTION WHERE, WE HAD ABOUT 70% OF THE VOTE CENTERS NOT ABLE TO TABULATE BALLOTS AND SPINNING THEM BACK AND PEOPLE HAVING TO SPEND HOURS TO GO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND TRY TO VOTE.

I CALL THAT A DISASTER.

TED: RESPOND TO THAT, PLEASE.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S ONE, A MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE 2020 AND 2022 ELECTIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT COURSE OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, YOU WOULD FIND THAT'S INCONSISTENT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF DON WANTS TO FIX ELECTION REPORTING, HE SHOULD RUN FOR SUPERVISOR.

MAIL VOTING WENT VERY, VERY WELL IN 2022, WENT WELL IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, IN THE PRIMARY, IT'S GONE WELL IN THE JURISDICTIONAL ELECTION, IT WENT WELL IN THE MARCH PREFRNENTIAL ELECTIONS AS WELL.

>> WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL IT DIDN'T GO RIGHT.

>> MAIL VOTING?

I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT IN MAIL VOTING.

IN THE SURVEY, MOST PEOPLE REPORTED HAVING A HIGH SATISFACTION RATE WITH MAIL VOTING.

MOST PEOPLE LIKE GETTING BALLOT ON TIME, LIKE BEING ABLE TO TRACK IT THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE, E-MAIL, BE BALLOT READY PORTAL.

WE'VE DONE MORE AND MORE TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF ALL MAIL VOTING.

I'M PROUD OF WHERE OUR MAIL VOTING IS AT RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD FAIRLY CHARACTERIZE IT AS A DISASTER.

TED: DON, YOU ARE QUOTED ON YOUR WEBSITE AS HAVING SERIOUS CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

EXPLAIN PLEASE.

>> WELL, I BEG TO DIFFER A LITTLE BIT ON THE MAIL-IN VOTING.

THERE'S BEEN, IF MAIL-IN VOTING IS SO GREAT, WHY ARE VOTER ROLLS SO OVERINFLATED?

WHY DID WE MAIL OUT 4 MILLION BALLOTS IN 2020 TO 2.1 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS?

I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS QUITE ADD UP IN THAT SPACE.

TED: BEFORE YOU RESPOND TO THE QUESTION THEY ASKED YOU, PLEASE RESPOND TO WHAT I SAID.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT'S FALSE.

WE DID NOT MAIL OUT MORE BALLOTS THAN THERE ARE VOTERS IN 2020.

I WAS NOT IN OFFICE IN 2020, BUT SINCE TAKING OFFICE, VOTER ROLLS HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY, AND WE HAVE GONE IN MARICOPA COUNTY FROM 2.6 MILLION ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS TO 2.4 MILLION ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS.

UNDER MY WATCH A DECREASE OF 200,000 ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.

DESPITE SAYING YOU'RE NOT DOING VOTER MAINTENANCE.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THAT, DON.

>> I GOING DIFFER.

11,000 HOMES THAT RECEIVED THREE BALLOTS FOR THE SAME VOTER.

SAME VOTER I.D.

THE SAME NAME.

SAME SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE RECORD WAS IDENTICAL.

SO THAT DOESN'T TELL MEET VOTER ROLLS ARE CLEANED OUT.

THAT'S A SMALL INKLING OF THE PROBLEM.

TED: PLEASE.

>> I APPRECIATE DON'S RAISING THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTER ROLLS, THEY'RE THE SKELETON UPON WHICH AN ELECTION IS BUILT, BUT THIS REFLECTS WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH FOR THE PAST 3 1/2 YEARS, AN ALLEGATION THAT MAYBE HAS SOME PURCHASE ON THE INTERNET, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE REAL FACTS, WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE COURTS, THE COURTS HAVE NEVER FOUND THIS.

IF THAT WERE TO BE THE CASE, WE WOULD BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IN THE COURTS, AND WE HAVE WON EVERY SINGLE COURT CHALLENGE, EVERY SINGLE COURT CASE.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE FOLLOW THE LAW.

WE WORK HARD, AND WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

TED: BACK TO THE INTEGRITY QUESTION, THAT'S A SERIOUS CHARGE THAT PEOPLE RUNNING THE ELECTIONS AND PEOPLE IN CHARGE WITH ELECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTIONS LACK INTEGRITY AND INTEGRITY IS A PROBLEM IN MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THERE?

>> I'M NOT SAYING THE PEOPLE ARE LACKING INTEGRITY.

I'M SAYING OUR ELECTION PROCESS LACKS INTEGRITY.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES.

TED: OKAY, HOW SO?

>> WELL, UM, BY THE WAY, MR. RICHER, THOSE FIGURES THAT I GAVE CAME FROM THE VM32 FILE, THE EARLY VOTING LIST.

YOU CAN LOOK IT UP WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE OFFICE.

THE AREAS THAT WE'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN MOSTLY IN HOW THE EARLY VOTING IS BEING USED, SO THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION IS ONE OF THE SPACES WHERE THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR BALLOT IS THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION, AND THE VIDEOS THAT WE'VE SEEN OF THE OFFICE, THE RECORDER, WHERE SOMEBODY IS SITTING THERE TAPPING THE ENTER KEY ON APPROVING VERIFICATIONS AT 1.6 SECONDS EACH JUST DON'T STAND OUT.

I'VE DONE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.

I WAS TRAINED ON THE 38--STEP PROCESS OF SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.

AND MY AVERAGE ON VERIFICATION WAS 20 SECONDS PER EACH SIGNATURE.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE ANALYSIS IN THIS SPACE WHERE COME TO ME AND SAID IT'S A DISASTER STILL.

TED: HEARING THE WORD DISASTER AGAIN, RESPOND, PLEASE.

>> IT'S NICE TO SAY THESE THINGS, IT'S NICE TO SAY THESE THINGS ON THE INTERNET.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT VERY POINT WAS TEST IN THE COURT OF LAW AND FOUND NOT TO BE THE CASE THAT WE DID SIGNATURE VERIFICATION, NOT ONLY PROPERLY, ACCORDING TO LAW, BUT BETTER THAN THE PAST WHY.

IS THAT?

BECAUSE I APPRECIATED HOW IMPORTANT SIGNATURE VERIFICATION WAS GOING TO BE TO THE PROCESS, SO WE ADDED ADDITIONAL AUDIT CUES, ADDED ADDITIONAL TRAINS, WE ADDED A LOT MORE WORKERS, TO THE EXTENT YOU'RE SAYING SIGNATURE VERIFICATION WASN'T DONE, YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE OVER 150 PEOPLE WHO DID SIGNATURE VERIFICATION DAY IN, DAY OUT, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, WORKING TOGETHER FOR EIGHT HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND SO I TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.

I ALSO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE IDEA THAT SIGNATURE VERIFICATION IS THE ONLY THING THAT ENSURES THE INTEGRITY OF THE MAIL BALLOT.

IT SHOWS THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS, ESPECIALLY THE BARCODE ON THE GREEN RETURN ENVELOPE.

TED: YOU CAN RESPOND, PLEASE, IF YOU LIKE, BUT I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE INTEGRITY ISSUE AND TRUSTWORTHINESS.

DO YOU THINK MR. RICHER IS A TRUSTWORTHY COUNTY ATTORNEY AND RECORDER.

>> I THINK HE'S A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON.

I'M NOT SURE WHETHER HE'S A TRUSTWORTHY COUNTY OR COUNTY RECORDER.

I'M GOING TO FORGET WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT BEFORE, BUT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS OFFICE IS GOING TO REST ENTIRELY ON THE PERSON THAT'S IN THE OFFICE, AND I'VE BEEN AROUND THIS COUNTY FOR FIVE MONTHS, AND WHENEVER -- WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY IS WE NEED TO REPLACE STEPHEN RICHER, THAT HE'S NOT BEEN THERE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR VOTES ARE SOLID.

EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING THERE'S BEEN ALL THESE DISASTERS, THE FACT THAT THE TABULATOR ISSUE, I CALL IT TABULATOR CLEANUP ON AISLE 3.

THAT'S INDISPUTABLE.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.

SO AS FAR AS THAT GOES, THAT'S WHERE ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS LIES.

TED: OKAY, THE IDEA THAT YOU ARE A TRUSTWORTHY GUY BUT NOT A TRUSTWORTHY COUNTY RECORDER.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> AGAIN, I REFER YOU TO THE COURTS WHERE WE'VE WON EVERY SINGLE COURT CASE, EVERY ALLEGATION IS FOUND TO BE WANTING.

AS FOR THE SECURITY OF THE MAIL BALLOT, WE CAN TRACE BACK EVERY SINGLE MAIL BALLOT.

WE CAN SHOW YOU ITS ENTIRE LIFE SPAN IF YOU WANT TO.

IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR ALLEGATIONS, I'M HAPPY TO LOOK INTO ANY OF THOSE.

NONE OF THOSE IS FACTUAL IN A COURT OF LAW.

TED: DON IS HEARING FROM REPUBLICANS YOU ARE NOT THERE FOR THEM AND WATCHING OUT FOR THEM AND THE ELECTION PROCESS.

>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE WHO IS MORE ACCESSIBLE IN GOVERNMENT, IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

YOU ASK ME A QUESTION ON TWITTER, I'LL RESPOND.

YOU E-MAIL ME A QUESTION, I'LL RESPOND.

DON'S COME IN AND TAKEN A TOUR OF OUR ELECTIONS FACILITY.

DON'S BEEN INTO MIMTECH MULTIPLE TIMES, EVEN AS A OBSERVER DURING THE MARCH 2024 PREFERENTIAL ELECTION.

WHAT I WILL NOT DO IS I WILL NOT LIE, AND I THINK THAT THIS POSITION REQUIRES THE TYPE OF MORAL FORTITUDE IN ORDER TO TELL PEOPLE HARD TRUTHS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN I'VE TOLD PEOPLE HARD TRUTHS, THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AS HE IS NOT WITH US.

FAR FROM IT.

I'M A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, I'M A LIFELONG CONSERVATIVE.

I BELIEVE IN FREE MARKETS, RULE OF LAW.

THE BORDER, MAKING IT SECURE.

BUT I WILL NOT LIE ABOUT THE ELECTIONS PROCESS.

I WILL INSTEAD IMPROVE THE ELECTIONS PROCESS AND TALK TO VOTERS ABOUT THE ELECTIONS PROCESS.

TED: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF YOUR RESPONSES ON TWITTER.

YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE ISSUE THE PEOPLE HAVE WITH OUR ELECTIONS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT THEY SEE IS THEY VOTE, AND THE OUTCOMES AREN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEMSELVES SEE AROUND THEM.

THEY SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH OUR VOTING.

WE HAVE 300,000 MORE REPUBLICANS IN THIS COUNTY WHO DON'T NECESSARILY SHOW UP TO VOTE ALL THE TIME, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE DISPARITIES IS THAT PEOPLE SAY WE'RE A RED STATE AND WHY ARE WE SO BLUE, WHY DO WE HAVE A BLUE GOVERNOR AND BLUE ATTORNEY GENERAL?

TED: ARE YOU SAYING ONE OF YOUR PROBLEMS IS FOLKS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT VOTING -- THE RESULTS AREN'T WHAT YOU SEE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOUR FRIENDS?

>> YES.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE TELL ME.

TED: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I'M IMMENSELY SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE PEOPLE DISAPPOINTED WITH ELECTION OUTCOMES, AND FOR ANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE BONA FIDE QUESTIONS, WE WILL ANSWER THOSE UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME.

WE'LL GIVE YOU AN ELECTIONS TOUR.

WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE SECURE.

I VOTED FOR A BUNCH OF LOSING CANDIDATES IN 2020, INCLUDING FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST, BUT TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND WHAT THE OTHER 2.4 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY ARE DOING, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DEDUCE THAT FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN MARICOPA COUNTY WE HAVE ABOUT 35% REGISTERED REPUBLICANS, WE HAVE 34% REGISTERED INDEPENDENT OR PARTY NOT DECLARED AND ABOUT 30% REGISTERED DEMOCRATS, SO WE ARE AS RECENT HISTORY HAS SHOWN, A COMPETITIVE COUNTY.

REPUBLICANS IN SOME RACES STILL DO VERY WELL.

I'M PIECE IS PLEASED WE STILL HAVE A STATE LEGISLATURE.

I'M PLEASED KIMBERLY YEE WON SO HANDILY IN THE RACE.

THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME.

TED: DON, YOU PROBABLY STATE TO BE MAGA, ARE YOU INDEED MAGA, AND IS THAT WHAT REPUBLICAN VOTERS -- THIS IS A PRIMARY ELECTION HERE, REPUBLICAN VOTERS WANT FROM A RECORDER IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> I'LL ANSWER THAT BACKWARDS.

I'M NOT SURE IF REPUBLICAN VOTERS WANT MAGA CANDIDATES AS FOR THE RECORDER, BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY MAGA.

I STAND PROUDLY WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, I ENDORSE HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND THE WHOLE MAKE AMERICA GREAT CONCEPT IS SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

WE'VE WATCHED OUR COUNTRY BE DESTROYED BY SOCIALISM OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS, AND SO I DO STAND PROUDLY WITH MAGA.

TED: SO DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DONALD TRUMP INDEED WON ARIZONA AND KARI LAKE INDEED WON ARIZONA?

THOSE ARE MAGA PRINCIPLES?

>> YEAH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE TO ANSWER.

SO HERE'S MY RESPONSE TO THAT.

IN THE ELECTIONS YOU JUST REFERRED TO, PEOPLE WONDER.

THEY THINK THAT SOMETHING IS STILL WRONG, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH HAVE TO DO WITH HOW PEOPLE SEE THE RESULTS, OKAY?

TED: OKAY, BUT STEPHEN, ARE YOU MAGA, AND IF YOU ARE, IS THAT WHAT VOTERS WANT IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> I'M SURPRISED BY DON'S ANSWER, I BELIEVE YOU ARE MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT THE 2020 AND 2022 ELECTIONS IN THE PAST.

I SUGGEST A CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER, IF YOU CANNOT ANSWER, YES OR NO WAS WITH THE 2020 ELECTION AND THE 2022 ELECTION STOLEN, YOU EITHER HAVEN'T DONE YOUR HOMEWORK OR DON'T HAVE THE MORAL COURAGE TO BE ABLE TO SAY YES OR NO, AND SO I'M GOING TO SAY NEITHER OF THOSE ELECTIONS WERE STOLEN.

WE KNOW THAT FROM THE POST-ELECTION AUDITS, WE KNOW THAT FROM THE COURT CASES, WE KNOW THAT FROM THE POST-ELECTION ADJUDICATION AS WELL.

TED: BUT A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS DON'T KNOW THAT.

THEY BELIEVE OTHERWISE.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> AND I AM NOT -- I'M VERY AWARE OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING TELE-TOWN HALLS, LIVE STREAMS, DOING TOURS, DOING VIDEOS.

AS DON, I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING, I'M ANSWERING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FROM VOTERS ON TWITTER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE WANT TO BUILD CONFIDENCE.

NOW ARE WE FACING HEAVY TAILWINDS?

YES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT AND I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT PAST ELECTIONS AT THIS POINT AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A TWO OUT OF TEN OR EIGHT OUT OF TEN IN TERMS OF CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS.

I WANT YOU TO MOVE UP THE LADDER BY THE TIME WE GET ON NOVEMBER OF 2024 BECAUSE ARIZONA IS GOING TO FACTOR IN PROMINENTLY AND MY OFFICE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO OFFER VOTERS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

GIVE US A CHANCE, REACH OUT TO US, WE WANT TO SHOW TO YOU HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.

>> REAL QUICKLY, WANT TO TRY AGAIN ON THE QUESTION AND TRUMP WINNING THE STATE?

>> SURE, PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTION.

WHETHER IT WAS STOLEN OR NOT REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT THERE'S INTENT, THAT THERE IS STRATEGIC INTENT AND THERE'S BEEN A CRIMINAL ACT THERE, AND NO, I CAN'T STAND UP AND TELL YOU THAT IS THE CASE.

I DON'T STAND UP AND SAY THAT THE 2020 OR 2024 ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

I SAY THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, GOT TO GET THIS IN BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SHOULD MARICOPA COUNTY VOTES BE TOTALLY HAND COUNTED?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS.

IF YOU WANT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, YOU SHOULD -- YOUR PRECINCT SHOULD END THE EVENING WITH A FRIENDLY HAND COUNT.

I REALLY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IN OUR ELECTIONS, USED TO BE YOU COULD GO TO A PRECINCT AND HAVE POLL OBSERVERS AND THEY COULD WATCH AND SEE IF SOMEBODY WAS STUFFING A BALLOT BOX BUT YOU CAN'T SEE THAT ANYMORE.

PEOPLE CAN'T SEE WHAT'S TAKE PLACE WITH THE GREEN, NO EXCUSE, MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND WE HAVE TEND TO OUR LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT MAIL-IN BALLOT IN ORDER FOR US TO GO BACK TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, STEPHEN?

>> THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDERS OFFICE AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS IT PERTAINS TO ELECTIONS RESPONSIBILITIES SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW.

IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE CHANGES THE LAW AND SAYS ONLY ONE DAY OF VOTING, ONLY HAND COUNT, WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW.

DO I THINK THAT'S GOOD LAW?

I APPRECIATE THE REVERENCE FOR THE PAST, BUT THE REALITY IS WE'VE HAD NO EXCUSE VOTE BY MAIL SINCE 1992 IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THE IDEALISTIC PRECINCT-BASED VOTING WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOU'VE SHOWN UP FOR A LONG, LONG TIME IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SAY HAND COUNTING, I SAY GREAT.

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SAY MACHINE COUNTING, GREAT.

WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE WHAT THEY BOTH OFFER.

MACHINES OFFER SPEED, RELIABILITY, ACCURACY, THEY DON'T GET SLEEPY, THEY'RE NOT BIASED, DON'T GET HUNGRY, BUT SHOULDN'T JUST TURN ON A MACHINE AND SAY LET'S TRUST IT.

THAT'S WHY BUILT INTO THE PROCESS IS A POST-ELECTION TEST BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND A POST-ELECTION HAND COUNT AUDIT DONE BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES WHERE THEY RANDOMLY SELECT BATCHES OF BALLOTS, HAND COUNT THOSE, MAKE SURE IT MATCHES THE MACHINE COUNT THAT'S HOW WE BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM.

TED: LAST QUESTION HERE?

>> WAIT, I WANT TO REBUT THAT.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A 28 DAY ELECTION SEASON AND TAKES TEN MORE DAYS TO GET FINAL ANSWER.

THE MACHINES MADE IT SO MUCH FASTER.

WE USED TO GET HAND COUNT RESULTS AT A PRECINCT WHEN YOU ARE COUNTING 600 BALLOTS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO COUNT THE MILLIONS OF BALLOTS IN ONE EVENING.

IT'S DONE WITH A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND WE USED TO HAVE THE ANSWERS BY THE TIME YOU WENT TO BED.

I HAVE TO DISPUTE THE SPEED OF MACHINES.

TED: THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WHAT WE USED TO KNOW IS WHO WON RACES, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN SOME OF OUR HIGHER PROFILE STATEWIDE CONTESTS WE HAVE LARGER MARGINS.

NETWORKS CAN CALL THE CONTESTS.

IN TERMS OF WHEN WE HAVE THE FINAL RESULTS, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BUT I WILL SAY ON THE RECORDER'S SIDE, I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO WANTING TO HAVE MORE RESULTS WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATED FOR MAKING EARLY BALLOTS EARLY, RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN DROP OFF YOUR EARLY BALLOT UNTIL 7:00 P.M. ON ELECTION NIGHT.

I WANT TO SEE THAT AS THE FLORIDA MODEL DOES, WHERE YOU HAVE TO DROP IT OFF BY SATURDAY ELECTION DAY TUESDAY.

TED: THAT WILL BE THE LAST RESPONSE HERE.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA WITH EARLY BALLOTS DROPPED OFF ON ELECTION DAY?

JUST KNOCK THAT OFF?

>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY COMMENT.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO END OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE GREEN, NO EXCUSE, MAIL-IN BALLOT.

TED: WE HAVE TO STOP IT THERE, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU, CANDIDATES, TIME NOW FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS, STARTING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, I HAVE DON HIATT.

>> I HAVE 35 YEARS I.T.

MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE AND CONSULTING EXPERIENCE, MY QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF MY BACKGROUND MAKE ME THE QUALIFIED CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS.

I WANT TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY AROUND TITLE DEEDS, AND NOTIFY PEOPLE OF CHANGES TO THEM, NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT SIGN UP FOR IT BUT EVERYONE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE -- I WANT TO CLEAN THE VOTER ROLLS BY NOTIFYING VOTERS OF CHANGES TO REGISTRATIONS.

RIGHT NOW PEOPLE TELL ME THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE CHANGED ON THEIR REGISTRATION.

THAT'S THE SECOND ONE.

THE THIRD ONE WOULD BE TO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE -- I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SORRY, I HAVE TO STOP IT THERE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND TIME NOW FOR STEPHEN RICHER'S CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> I WANT TO THANK TED FOR PUTTING UP WITH US AND THANK DON FOR BEING A GENTLEMAN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND THE CAMPAIGN AND FOR SHOWING UP TONIGHT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

REGARDING CHANGING VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS, IF YOU CHANGE YOUR STATUS, WE MAIL YOU A NEW VOTER REGISTRATION CARD.

AS TO WHY I WOULD LIKE THE HONOR OF DOING THIS AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, CONSIDER THE PRESIDENTIAL ADAGE OF WHERE WERE YOU FOUR YEARS AGO, REGARDING OUR VOTER ROLLS, WHERE WERE WE FOUR YEARS AGO?

WE'RE IN A BETTER PLACE TODAY.

WE WENT DOWN BY 200,000 VOTERS DESPITE BEING THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY.

WHERE WERE WE FOUR YEARS AGO?

WE HAD A DATED 20-YEAR-OLD WEBSITE.

TODAY WE HAVE A MODERN WEBSITE THAT MAKES IT EASY TO FIND INFORMATION.

WHERE WERE YOU FOUR YEARS AGO WITH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS?

THOSE WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO FULFILL.

NOW RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

WHERE WERE WE WITH TRANSPARENCY FOUR YEARS AGO?

IT WAS HARD TO GET A TOUR, HARD TO GET INFORMATION AND STATISTICS.

I AM PROUD OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE ON, OVER THESE PAST FOUR YEARS AND APPRECIATE HONOR OF DOING IT ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

TED: CANDIDATES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GENTLEMEN.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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