(The Center Square) – Maricopa County is now re-doing logic and accuracy tests on election equipment after an alleged theft by a temporary election worker last week.
The county recorder’s office told The Center Square that the employee was fired on Friday There is now an active investigation by the county sheriff’s office.
Walter Ringfield allegedly stole a fob and is reportedly still in police custody.
The Washington Post reported that he said he took the fob meant for elections-related use, hence the heightened concern from county officials.
“On Friday morning, when completing a daily inventory, Maricopa County elections workers identified that an item was taken from the Ballot Tabulation Center on Thursday evening, and staff took immediate action to investigate the matter and contacted the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office,” a county spokesperson told reporters in an email on Monday morning.
“The stolen item has been recovered but to ensure the integrity of Maricopa County Elections, election workers are reprogramming and re-conducting logic and accuracy testing of all equipment,” the email added.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s office said that the actions taken after the theft occurred should “reassure the public” about the “security measures in place.”
“Our systems are not only designed to detect anomalies but are also supported by dedicated professionals committed to upholding the democratic process. While this event is unwelcome, it speaks the effectiveness of the security protocols built into Arizona’s election systems,” the statement said.
“The swift actions of the Maricopa County elections staff, including the re-conducting of logic and accuracy tests, builds in extra layers of protection of all affected equipment. This quick response will prevent any potential impact on the upcoming elections. The Secretary of State’s office will collaborate with law enforcement to address and investigate this incident to ensure accountability and swift justice,” the office added.
The primary election is July 30. The county is the second-largest voting jurisdiction in the country.
The county told The Center Square that the leadership for political parties was informed about the testing being redone on the equipment.
“Per protocol, party leadership was notified on Friday of the L&A testing that was going to happen over the weekend. This morning, both chairs were provided information about the theft and the reason why were restarted logic and accuracy testing,” they said in an email.
