Arizona legislators have called for an “expeditious” forensic audit of the Dominion voting machines used in Maricopa County.
Top legislators from both the House and the Senate in Arizona have called for the forensic audit of the Dominion machines, which were only used in Maricopa County, the largest county in the state, and the only one that narrowly flipped from President Trump to Joe Biden according to preliminary election results.
Senate President Karen Fann and Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers, along with the incoming Senate Government Chair Michelle Ugenti-Rita and House Majority Leader Warren Petersen, called for the independent audit of the Dominion software and equipment used in the election.
The voting machines in Maricopa County did not have their Certificate of Accuracy, meant to confirm that they had been checked to prevent fraud, signed by any Republican. Rae Chornenky, the Maricopa County GOP Chair who was meant to have signed it, resigned after being called to step down by angry Arizona Republicans.
I formally & publicly call on Rae Chornenky & 1st Vice Chair Linda Brickman (who should have been there in her stead if she could not make it) to resign effective immediately. This is 100% unacceptable & has contributed to the collapse of Arizona voter confidence. @ChornenkyRae pic.twitter.com/WoXFMQkz9s
— Senator-Elect Kelly Townsend (@KellyTownsend11) November 10, 2020
“As a longtime advocate for improving and modernizing our election system, I am pleased to learn that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is supportive of conducting an independent audit of their voting software and equipment,” said Ugenti-Rita in a press release. “It is important we maintain all of the voting public’s confidence in our elections and this is a positive step in the right direction.”
“A significant number of voters believe that fraud occurred and with the number of irregularities it is easy to understand why,” said Petersen. “Especially concerning are the allegations made surrounding the vendor Dominion. It is imperative that the County immediately do a forensic audit on the Dominion software and equipment to make sure the results were accurate.”
The press release highlighted that the legislators had made it clear to the supervisors of Maricopa County of the importance to move the investigation “expeditiously,” due to the clear time-sensitive nature of the subject.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Legislative Leaders call for audit of Maricopa County election software and equipment #AZSenate #AZleg #Election @AZHouseGOP pic.twitter.com/wDlr7v0fDT
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) December 4, 2020
She was joined by Representative Paul Gosar, who described the move as a “good start, if not a few weeks late.” Gosar said that there should also be a “special session to evaluate the election process and reinstate Election Day and eliminate mail voting,” allowing with institutiong “strict ID requirements and 60 day Pre registration so clerk has time to verify.”
It’s a good start if not a few weeks late. Also need: special session to evaluate election process and reinstate Election Day and eliminate mail voting; institute strict ID requirements and 60 day Pre registration so clerk has time to verify. #StopTheSteaI2020 https://t.co/QEc7ddZtve
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) December 4, 2020
The Arizona GOP praised the decision in a tweet. “Thank you to our Republican legislators for stepping up and calling for #AuditTheVote,” the tweet reads. “Expect threats, attacks, and vicious smear campaigns. But take heart! The People are with you 100 percent.”
Thank you to our Republican legislators for stepping up and calling for #AuditTheVote. Expect threats, attacks, and vicious smear campaigns. But take heart! The People are with you 100 percent.@FannKfann @speakerbowers @MichelleUgenti @votewarren
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 4, 2020
Dr Kelli Ward, the chair of the Arizona GOP, told National File that this was a “great press release,” but they needed to call an immediate legislative hearing with full subpoena power to properly investigate the election as a whole.
Call a legislative hearing with subpoena power TODAY!! https://t.co/KD1X23xeZl
— Dr. Kelli Ward 🇺🇸 (@kelliwardaz) December 4, 2020
This call for an audit by legislators follows the assessment of a sample of 100 reduplicated ballots by the Arizona GOP. As National File reported:
In the 100 vote batch, two votes were discovered that were of concern. Arizona GOP lawyer Jack Wilenchik wrote in a court filing that one original ballot contained “was clearly a vote for Trump,” but the “duplicate ballot switched the vote to Biden,” while a second Trump vote was completely discarded, due to the duplicate ballot also including a “blank” vote for a write-in presidential candidate.
“Thank goodness that Judge Warner said he wanted to err on the side of transparency and let us look at these,” Ward said in a video released to Twitter. “Those media propagandists who say there is no evidence of fraud can now shut up.”
In today’s update, Chairwoman @kelliwardaz announces the findings from our investigation of 100 duplicate ballots, in which TWO votes were discovered to have been altered and removed from President @realDonaldTrump‘s total. pic.twitter.com/6Dg9zd2XGd
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 2, 2020
