Topline
Arizona's controversial election audit concluded Friday. The GOP-backed company that conducted it said the investigation had increased President Joe Bidens margin to victory. However, Republicans in many other states are already beginning other probes that could raise doubts about the presidential vote count.
As part of an controversial election audit, Maricopa County ballots are being examined at Veterans Memorial... [+] Coliseum Phoenix May 6. ASSOCIATED PRS
The Key Facts
There are three different elections investigations in Wisconsin. One is initiated by Robin Vos, Republican Assembly Speaker, and another, so-called forensic audit, which was modeled after Arizona by GOP Rep. Janel Marktjen. The third investigation is being conducted by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau. This investigation was requested by the Republican-led legislature to conduct. Brandtjen's audit is still in limbo after Vos refused subpoenas to counties for election equipment. However, Vos' investigation is progressing, with a former justice of the state Supreme Court who has spoken out against Mike Lindells false claims of election fraud. The ex-justice Michael Gableman sent emails asking local election clerks to preserve election-related records. However, the email was flagged by the Associated Press as junk mail or a security risk for many counties. It came from a Gmail account that seemed unconnected to Gableman. Many clerks ignore his requests. After a power struggle over who would lead the audit, Pennsylvania's election audit is underway. GOP state senators began hearings and subpoenaed Pennsylvania for information about all 6.9 million Pennsylvania voters. Democrats in Pennsylvania are attempting to stop the subpoenas. State senators and the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro are suing to block them. On Thursday, former President Donald Trump requested Texas to audit the election results despite having won the state with 52% vote. The Texas Secretary of State office obliged and launched investigations into four counties' vote counts.
Big Number
99. This is the amount of votes that Biden received in Maricopa County from Cyber Ninjas, the controversial private company responsible for the audit. It was higher than the official state tally. Also, the audit found 261 less votes for Trump than in the state.
Important Quote
Why is it that we audit everything around the world but not elections? This is fundamental to democracy. Texas Governor. Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace spoke on behalf of the state's election audit. He also claimed that the election investigation began months ago and was already in progress, but Chris Wallace pointed out that the counties investigations were not publicly disclosed until Trump requested them. (Abbott didn't provide any clarification about that timeline.
Chief Critic
After the Arizona audit results were released, the chairman of Wisconsin's Republican Party of Fond du Lac County stated on Twitter that he hoped his fellow Republicans would stop this nonsense and focus on 2022 elections. Rohn W. Bishop explained that the GOP is hacking away Republican clerks and alienating voters who believe they are nuts, as well as wasting taxpayer dollars.
Surprising Fact
Although GOP election investigators often refer to their efforts under the name forensic audits (which is inaccurate), it has been challenged as incorrect. Georgia Public Broadcasting cited election experts who explained that forensic audits are financial investigations that look at minute details that can be traced back to individual accounts. This is difficult with anonymous election ballots. The Associated Press notes that forensic has been used historically to describe investigations into a crime. However, there is no evidence that such crimes took place in 2020 elections, not even the baseless fraud allegations made by Trump and his supporters.
Important Background
Friday's Arizona audit results ended a lengthy investigation into the vote count. The probe had been heavily criticised for its lack of transparency, privacy and questions about funding. Although the House Oversight Committee will be investigating the audit that cost almost $6 million, it has not stopped the election probe being a source for inspiration for other GOP lawmakers across America. The official election results will remain certified as they are, so the Arizona audit and its duplicates won't have any effect. These probes were criticised for reducing faith in the vote count and provoking baseless claims that the election was rigged. However, there is no evidence to support these allegations. Numerous state and local government audits have confirmed the accuracy of the election results and found no widespread problems. Biden's administration also warned that right-wing electoral audits could violate federal law by removing election materials from election officials' possession.
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Arizona Audit Cost Trump Supporters Nearly 6 MillionOnly To Assert Biden Won by Even More (Forbes).
Highly Controversial Election Audit Confirms Bidens win in ArizonaAnd Actually Advances His Lead (Forbes).
Pennsylvania's Election Audit gets off to a wild start as GOP subpoenas personal details on every voter in state (Forbes).
What is the Status of GOP-Backed Election Investigations in Wisconsin? (Wisconsin Public Radio).
Trump Asks for an Election Audit in TexasWhich He Won? (Forbes).
