Running an Election in the Heart of Election Denialism

<p><i>This episode contains strong language. </i></p><p>Hundreds of candidates on the ballot in November still deny that President Biden won in 2020 — a level of denialism that is fueling harassment and threats toward election workers. </p><p>Few have experienced those attacks as viscerally as election workers in Arizona. Today, we speak with the top election official in the state’s largest county. </p><p>Guest: Stephen Richer, the recorder of Maricopa County in Arizona. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Election officials are on alert as voting begins for midterm elections,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/17/us/politics/midterm-elections-challenges.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> the biggest test of the American election system</a> since former President Donald J. Trump’s lies about the 2020 results launched an assault on the democratic process.</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/13/us/politics/republican-candidates-2020-election-misinformation.html?smid=pc-thedaily">Over 370 Republican candidates</a> have cast doubt on the 2020 election despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, according to a New York Times investigation.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>