On Election Day, many voters in Apache County, Arizona, faced significant obstacles as faulty voting machines led to widespread disruptions. Katherine Belzowski, assistant attorney general at the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, described the situation as “the worst we’ve ever seen,” noting that some voters were turned away before casting their ballots.
The malfunctioning machines are reportedly printing only propositions, omitting candidates from the ballots. As a result, poll workers have been forced to rely on express voting machines (EVMs), of which there is only one per polling location. These machines have also been prone to freezing, exacerbating the delays.
Although voting issues have historically plagued Apache County, this year’s problems appear to be particularly severe. The Navajo Nation Department of Justice is considering legal action to keep polling locations open later on Election Day. A Democratic poll watcher criticized the situation, calling the voting difficulties a “disgrace.”
Many voters are experiencing wait times exceeding two hours, and some polling places are running low on backup provisional ballots. The poll watcher emphasized the challenges faced by voters in this economically disadvantaged region, stating, “This is a very poor part of this country, and people can’t miss work like they can elsewhere.”
While some voters were initially turned away, legal groups, including the Navajo DOJ, quickly advised against this and encouraged the use of EVMs and provisional ballots. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, during a Tuesday morning news conference, could not confirm the reports from Apache County but urged voters not to leave polling locations if they encounter difficulties.