As Arizona business leaders, we support election officials against rising threats, emphasizing democracy's role in the state's economy. We commit to protecting election integrity and fighting election denialism while helping to address challenges such as election official turnover. View the press release here.
To the County Recorders and County Elections Directors in Arizona:
We, the undersigned, are a cross-partisan group of business and community leaders - Republicans, Independents and Democrats - in industries across Arizona who are concerned about the prevalence of unwarranted attacks on you and your staff.
We firmly believe that maintaining Arizona’s strong economy requires a healthy, vibrant and durable democracy in our state. More jobs, higher wages, and greater economic growth in Arizona require consistent democratic norms and institutions. We deeply appreciate your willingness to take on the essential role of executing safe, secure and accurate elections in such deeply polarized times. Your work is the glue that bonds our processes and upholds our democracy.
We are acutely aware of the threats of violence that make the job of administering our elections more difficult than ever. That the Secretary of State felt he needed live shooter training for the workforce; that a county election official had her two dogs poisoned; and that - after 10 years of service - the County Recorder of Yavapai County resigned after relentless threats that led to law enforcement protection – is all outrageous and unacceptable.
The impact on your ranks has been devastating, with turnover in leadership in nearly every county in the state, Republican and Democrat alike. According to an Issue One report, 98 percent of Arizonans will see the 2024 election administered by someone different than the officials who administered the 2020 election. This represents more turnover than any other state in the country.
We also stand in support of the countless number of volunteers and temporary workers who play vital roles in helping you administer the elections. They, too, have been subject to harassment and threats, and they are civic servants doing their best to help you.
Over the course of 2024 and beyond, we commit to using our voices to speak out against attacks and threats on those administering our elections. We will ask our colleagues and peers, along with our state’s elected officials, to stand with us, support election officials across the state, call out election denialism where we see it, and commit to efforts that defend our democracy from further attack. And we will continue to support safe, secure and accurate elections.
Sincerely,
Leadership Now Arizona