Authorities in Arizona promise “zero tolerance” in case of attacks on the polls

Maricopa authorities, in Arizonareinforced the security measures for the mid-term elections in USApledging “zero tolerance” for violators in the county that led the battle against conspiracy theories in the 2020 presidential election.

“If you decide to come and break the law, I have several cells waiting for you,” said Sheriff Paul Penzone at a press conference with the Maricopa electoral authorities, the day before the elections.

This Tuesday, November 8, Americans will go to the polls to renew the 435 seats in the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate, in addition to electing governors and numerous local positions.

In Maricopawith 4.5 million inhabitants, the tension has grown with armed people hanging around the ballot boxes where early votes are recorded, and by threats, including death, against electoral officials.

“We will not be intimidated,” said Maricopa Board of Elections Supervisor Bill Gates. “We already went through that in 2020, when the former president [Trump] He called us along with other leaders of the Republican Party to do this or that.”

In the 2020 presidential elections, the Democrat Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in an election that Republican party leaders contested, despite the fact that no allegation of fraud was proven.

In Arizona, Biden won by a narrow margin of 10,000 votes, and conspiracy theories sparked an atmosphere of electoral paranoia.

Several audits ratified the results and Maricopa became the starting point of the campaign in defense of the US electoral system.

The three main candidates of the Republican party for the elections this Tuesday are unaware of the victory that proclaimed President Biden.

“I’ve been in the profession for more than three decades,” Penzone said. “And I never thought that we would put up physical barriers, barbed wire … have all the resources we have to protect the building where the most important thing in our nation happens: the free vote.”

Penzone said that amid rising tensions, his team has devised a large-scale operation that will deploy plainclothes officers to guard polling stations, and protect the movement of ballot boxes.

“We’re in a very tense climate,” said Shana Ellis, a 51-year-old voter in Phoenix. “A person should not be afraid to go vote (…) It is disappointing that whoever does not win the election automatically questions the process.”

“This is a defining moment, not just for Arizona, but for the entire nation,” said Sheriff Penzone. “There are people out there who want to distrust the democratic process, and [por eso] Arizona It has become a focal point.”

The electoral authorities ratified their confidence in the voting system, and said they were prepared for a massive influx on Tuesday in the 223 voting centers installed.

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