Arizona

EXCLUSIVE: Arizona Election Worker Retails Voter Fraud Investigation

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2022

EXCLUSIVE: Arizona Election Worker Retails Voter Fraud Investigation

The employee says the continuing investigation is focusing on US non-profits she believes are ‘political advocacy teams’

In an unique interview given to The Epoch Occasions, the recorder on the Yuma County Sherrif’s Workplace provided extra insights into the dangers of fraudulent registration kinds main as much as the 2022 Major Election and the efforts she and her crew are engaged on to enhance the method.

“Our major is Aug. 2. We’ve got acquired registration kinds which might be fraudulently accomplished,” Yuma County recorder Robyn Stallworth Pouquette, who offers oversight into the county’s voter registration and early voting, advised The Epoch Occasions in an interview on June 7. “It’s been a prevalent downside in Yuma County, and it’s very unlucky.”

Pouquette’s allegations come along with different witness studies and allegations of voting fraud which might be the topic of 16 open investigations on the sheriff’s workplace.

The noticed “sample of fraudulent voter registration kinds,” in response to a Could 11 assertion made by the sheriff’s workplace, contains alleged impersonation fraud, false registrations, duplicate voting, and fraudulent use of absentee ballots.

Whereas Pouquette couldn’t present any names as a result of the investigation is ongoing, she confirmed to The Epoch Occasions that most of the anomalous instances pertain to non-profits working on a nationwide scale, which she believes to be “political advocacy teams.”

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“We’re extraordinarily inspired that the Yuma County Sheriff’s Workplace and Recorder’s Workplace are actually working collectively to analyze people concerned within the subversion of elections,” Catherine Engelbrecht, founding father of election integrity group True The Vote, advised The Epoch Occasions in an announcement in Could. “We’ve spent concentrated time in Yuma County and have supplied vital data to each state and federal authorities. What has been taking place in Yuma County is going on throughout the nation. The focusing on of weak communities and voter abuse have to be stopped.”

“It is vitally troublesome to determine who’s submitting these fraudulent kinds. However I’m conscious of actions of third-party teams and I shared that data with the sheriff’s workplace,” Pouquette stated of what she’s witnessed.

Uncommon Indicators

Pouquette stated that whereas third-party organizations who solicit voter registrations serve an essential position in helping voters, they’re additionally a degree of vulnerability within the election course of if the ballots they assist voters submit are fraudulent—because of intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of a voter’s needs.

“I consider it’s a vulnerability of the system, within the sense that fraudulent voter registrations can disrupt the respectable energetic registration of an eligible voter,” she stated. “It’s a very disruptive course of for the workplace once we needs to be specializing in audits and ensuring that we’re auditing our information previous to the distribution of ballots.”

“I’m very captivated with it as a result of there isn’t a regulation that precludes voter registration actions [by] third-party teams,” Pouquette stated. “I really feel that voter registration solicitors needs to be held accountable to the next customary.”

After these third-party organizations drop the voter registration kinds they’ve collected on the recorder’s workplace, Pouquette and her crew would run them via a statewide database to cross-check the figuring out data on every type to the voter.

Nevertheless, Pouquette stated she’s observed uncommon indicators with a number of the kinds she’s acquired.

“I might instantly see that there have been particular person names in these kinds that had been those who I knew had been already registered. However they had been using actual folks’s names with faux addresses and pretend dates of beginning,” she stated. “One in every of them was our pediatrician. One in every of them was a neighborhood lawyer who I had been an acquaintance of and has handed away for a while. One was a minor that I consider was across the age of 14 … So it simply grew to become very clear that there was an issue.

“After which, we’re getting 5, six registration kinds for a similar individual. As you possibly can think about, that’s the place we really feel that there’s an intentional effort to disrupt the system and determine vulnerabilities,” Pouquette added.

Pouquette stated they’ve observed over 100 such anomalies within the registration course of main as much as the 2022 primaries and have despatched letters to every of the addresses indicated on the registration kinds as required by regulation.

“I merely discover it unlucky that it’s a requirement as a result of we all know that we’re sending them to those who now we have a powerful perception to be nonexistent,” she stated. “We needs to be engaged on credible, actual registrations that now we have in our county, versus spending any time or sources—which is definitely vital time and sources—on this sort of exercise.”

New Legislation Proposed

Pouquette added that after she observed a sample of fraudulent registration in 2016, she and her crew started to work with the Arizona legislature to develop new legal guidelines to “outline parameters for regulation of voter registration solicitation.” Nevertheless, she stated the efforts have been largely unsuccessful.

She and her crew, via the Flinn-Brown Fellowship, put collectively provisions that Arizona Senate Republicans included in a invoice launched in February 2022, SB1629, which might maintain third-party registration solicitors accountable.

“[The bill] required that third-party registration solicitors flip within the kinds inside 5 days in order that there’s a timeframe on accountability and any fraudulent type be subjected to a class-6 felony,” Pouquette stated. “And as you possibly can think about, it was very controversial.”

The invoice additionally requires anybody amassing greater than 25 voter registration kinds to determine themselves with the Secretary of State’s workplace so the recorder’s workplace would have the flexibility to contact them for any points with the kinds they turned in. The invoice failed its third studying in March and is ready to be reconsidered for an additional studying within the Senate.

“We don’t wish to diminish the work that third-party teams do … to solicit voter registration. I consider that that’s essential and we must always have teams which might be in a position to do this. I simply merely really feel that we must always place accountability measures that … professionalize the method to supply that belief to the neighborhood. I merely felt that it was a step in the correct path for accountability,” she stated of the invoice.

“And I do consider that, once more, the work that’s put in—to make each single effort to not permit these [fraudulent] registrations to show into ballots—is difficult and time-consuming, very, very straining on sources,” she added. “And these are the workers and election officers that ought to diligently be engaged on administering a safe election and never coping with felony exercise like that.”

‘A Few Unhealthy Actors’

Pouquette hoped to make clear that not all third-party teams that register voters are disruptive to the election course of.

“So even just a few unhealthy actors, as you possibly can think about, contribute such a adverse gentle on the method total, which impacts my workplace and the general public belief within the electoral course of … the opposite third-party teams which might be making vital efforts to have interaction with voters and help in, you realize, the democratic course of.”

“I at all times inform folks they need to be very proud to vote in Arizona, whatever the negativity swirling round elections, as a result of we work actually exhausting. So I invite folks in to see the method right here from their floor ground to essentially perceive what we do to confirm and over confirm and confirm third time and audit. These are simply common practices taking place every day in the course of the cycle right here,” Pouquette stated.

“I simply actually really feel that that will get neglected; you realize, how daring election officers are, how courageous they’re, and doing this sort of work each single day, regardless of the crucial response.”

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Gary Bai is a reporter for Epoch Occasions Canada, masking China and U.S. information.

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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Powerball, The Pick results for Dec. 23, 2024

Published

6 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Powerball, The Pick results for Dec. 23, 2024

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Arizona offers Powerball, Mega Millions, The Pick, Triple Twist, Fantasy 5 and Pick 3 as well as Scratchers, Quick Draw and Fast Play.

Lottery players have seen enormous jackpots recently, with previous winners of both the Powerball and Mega Millions breaking into the top 10 largest jackpots in U.S. lottery history. Money raised from Arizona lottery games goes toward funding higher education, health and human services, environmental conservation and economic and business development in the state.

Powerball

22-42-44-57-64, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

The Pick

01-09-11-13-26-33

Check The Pick payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

5-1-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Fantasy 5

06-12-30-31-41

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Triple Twist

07-09-19-26-27-34

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:

Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy Arizona lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Arizona

How air pollution plays a role during Arizona’s deadliest months of the year

Published

14 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

How air pollution plays a role during Arizona’s deadliest months of the year

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Maricopa County has declared Monday through Wednesday as ‘no burn days.’ County leaders say there are elevated levels of smoke in the air.

The poor air quality was visible in the Valley Monday as the Arizona’s Family news drone captured video of the layers of pollution. It could be seen from Camelback Mountain through downtown Phoenix.

It’s common to see the dirty air this time of year. There are more people visiting Arizona through the holidays, which means more cars and more air pollution.

There are also more people burning inside to heat their homes, which sends smoke into the air. People will also light off fireworks around the holidays, which can add to the already poor air quality.

While the weather is beautiful around the Valley this time of year, it can be the deadliest time in Arizona. According to numbers from the Arizona Department of Health Services, January is the deadliest month of the year.

In 2022, more than 8,300 people died in Arizona, nearly 2,000 more than any other month. December was second-highest, with more than 6,700 people who died.

Air pollution could be a contributing factor to the increased deaths in our state.

Dr. Ashley Lowe with the College of Nursing at the University of Arizona works with many Arizona schools. She says these months are when more kids are going to the nurse with breathing problems and says air pollution is a big reason why.

“We do tend to have an uptick in the number of visits to the health office because kids are having breathing problems,” Lowe said. “All of these things come together to create a perfect storm.”

Dr. Lowe says kids with asthma can especially be impacted from the dirty air. She says she doesn’t want kids to stay away from their practices and other events, but it’s best to limit exposure outdoors on some of the worst air quality days.

If you are struggling to breathe, shutting the windows and doors around your home can help by keeping the polluted air outside of your home.

An indoor air filter can also clean out the bad particles from the air inside your home.

The weather also plays a role in why the bad air can stick around for days or even weeks this time of year. While it’s beautiful outside, the weather is normally calm which means there is no wind or rain to push the dirty air away.

“We live already in a valley kind of in a bowl and everything kind of settles. You get warm afternoons and cold mornings so that inversion sets in and it kind of traps everything,” Arizona’s Family First Alert Meteorologist April Warnecke said. “It would help to get wind or rain but those are the two things we don’t have in the forecast.”

Air quality trackers can show where the worst of the polluted air is.

According to AirNow, Christmas and New Year’s can have the worst air quality of the year. There were readings of “very unhealthy” air quality during the holidays in 2023.

The CDC says chronic respiratory disease is the fifth leading cause of death in Arizona each year.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

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Arizona

College Football Playoff odds: Penn State, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia favored in 2nd round

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

College Football Playoff odds: Penn State, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia favored in 2nd round

Who is favored in College Football Playoff quarterfinal odds?

Check out the point spread, moneyline and over/under (point total) for all four quarterfinal games on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

No. 3 Boise State faces No. 6 Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

On Wednesday, Jan. 1, No. 4 Arizona State takes on No. 5 Texas in the Peach Bowl, No. 1 Oregon plays No. 8 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl and No. 2 Georgia opposes No. 7 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

The lower seed is interestingly currently favored in betting odds for three of the four CFP quarterfinal matchups, with Arizona State the biggest underdog as almost a 2-touchdown underdog against Texas.