Arizona volunteers prepare for midterms as election disputes hit the ballot

Voters in Arizona face a new layer of scrutiny this Tuesday as election denialism becomes a central issue in the state's governor, secretary of state, and attorney general races. The Republican nominees for all three positions played roles in challenging the 2020 election results. This has led to a surge in grassroots monitoring efforts designed to reassure citizens that their ballots will be counted and that the winner is declared based on the highest vote total.

The push involves ordinary citizens, law students, and faith group members stepping into roles as poll monitors. These volunteers are not there to count votes but to answer procedural questions, ensure voters are not incorrectly turned away, and report anomalies. In Chandler, Arizona, Medina Moore, the voting rights organizer for the Arizona Faith Network, recently conducted one of her final training sessions. She prepared about 200 new volunteers recruited from local religious groups to watch for issues at polling sites.

Moore advised the group on how to handle potential federal agents at the polls, instructing them to call a legal hotline, record video, and remove themselves from intense situations. She described the current moment as urgent, noting that educating voters on what is true is vital during an era of information overload. The training is part of a larger national effort where more than 21,000 people have been certified as nonpartisan poll monitors through the Election Protection coalition.

The monitoring effort is a response to actions taken by the Trump administration in the weeks leading up to the midterms. The Justice Department has sued California over a claim of 20,000 likely noncitizen voters, threatened to prosecute election officials, and moved to block the certification of Alaska's election results if the Republican Senate candidate loses narrowly. Federal monitors are also being sent to polling places in every state. President Trump offered $1 million to anyone who reports voter fraud leading to a conviction, a move critics say fuels fears about the integrity of the process.

Arizona is a focal point for these efforts because it was an epicenter of Republican efforts to deny the 2020 results. Residents there cite concerns about political violence and the high stakes of the secretary of state race. Alex Kolodin, the Republican candidate for secretary of state, filed lawsuits challenging the 2020 results. His opponent, incumbent Democrat Adrian Fontes, campaigns with the slogan Protect your vote, while Kolodin uses the phrase Protect every vote. The secretary of state plays a key role in certifying state results, making this race consequential for future national elections.

Organizers emphasize that the goal is nonpartisan. Rebekah Caruthers, president of the Fair Elections Center, said the best way to combat voter fear is for as many people as possible to show up and exercise their right. The Fair Elections Center is working with college students to monitor voting on campuses. Hardy Merriman, an organizer with the Hold the Line project, said the group has recruited about 650 volunteers to ask local leaders to sign pledges affirming they back free and fair elections. Merriman stressed that calling for a free and fair election is not a partisan act.

Camille Wimbish, the national director of campaigns for the Election Protection coalition, said that about 3,000 legal professionals will staff the hotline. Monitors will be stationed in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The legal team is ready to respond to reports of long lines, aggressive electioneering, or law enforcement presence at voting locations. Wimbish said the effort provides reassurance to voters and demonstrates a community commitment to making Election Day a peaceful and celebratory experience.

PJ Boone-Edgerton Longoni, a 70-year-old volunteer who attended the training in Chandler, said the role initially made her nervous but she feels a high-stakes need for citizens to show up. She noted that misinformation erodes trust, and democracy relies on that trust. As the midterms approach, these volunteers aim to be a peaceful presence, ensuring that the process remains transparent and that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot.