Why Arizona's Election Day results will be delayed
Results from ballots cast at Maricopa County’s Election Day polling places will be delayed due to a Republican-backed change in state law, a lag that could fuel false claims as the nation awaits the outcome of the presidential race.
The expected slowdown stems from a new state law enacted in February that requires poll workers to tally the number of mail ballot envelopes dropped off at the location before they deliver results to the central counting facility. This is just an initial count of the number of ballot envelopes. The votes on these ballots get counted later, after voter signatures on the ballot envelopes are verified.
Still, the task will take time. In past elections, more than 1,500 mail ballots have been dropped off at busy sites on the day of the election.
Maricopa County — one of just a few closely watched swing counties in a later time zone — will not provide an estimate for when officials expect polling place returns.
https://azmirror.com/2024/10/30/why-arizonas-election-day-results-will-be-delayed/