In the 12 months following two elected officials’ refusal to certify an election in rural Arizona, the repercussions have been felt. Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby, the Republican supervisors in Cochise county, have been subpoenaed by the state’s attorney general.
The GOP-led county has faced legal fees and settlements totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars due to lawsuits stemming from Crosby and Judd’s attempt to prevent machine counting, reflecting a growing trend of rightwing efforts to switch to hand counts and delay election results. The elections department has undergone significant turnover, with four different leaders in the past year and ongoing challenges to election denialism in the county.
Despite a failed attempt to recall Crosby, election fervor remains strong in the traditionally Republican county, which has become a hotbed of far-right conspiracy theories and attempts to curtail voting access. The situation has garnered significant attention at county meetings, with proponents advocating for hand-counting all ballots and opposing mail-in and machine voting. On the other hand, a group has spoken out in support of the traditional election process.
Amidst mounting legal challenges and public outcry, Crosby has sought financial support through a crowdfunding campaign to defend himself. Meanwhile, the state’s attorney general is conducting an active investigation, focusing on potential open meetings law violations.
While Cochise county’s troubles have discouraged other Arizona counties from following suit, the fallout has cast a shadow over all elections in the region, sparking legal battles and intensifying scrutiny of voting processes. The situation has exacerbated distrust amid fundamental disputes over election maintenance.
The investigation into Crosby and Judd’s actions has been a source of encouragement for those concerned about democracy in Cochise county, although the potential for criminal charges to backfire in a high-profile presidential election year remains a cause for concern.
