PHOENIX — Operating a swing-state election office in 2023 requires not just attention to detail, but also fortitude — and in the case of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder Stephen Richer, an enormous amount of caffeine. “Yes, I am a Diet Coke addict — a living, walking experiment,” he told NBC News. “I probably drink north of 100 ounces every single day.
Even though Richer says Arizona counts ballots faster than most other Western states, it remains a perfect storm for a long-drawn-out election week. Approximately 90% of Arizona voters cast ballots by mail, and almost 20% of that group uses the Election Day drop-off option that slows down the tabulation process. Add in that Arizona consistently has some of the closest statewide elections in the entire country, and it’s a recipe for a long and uncertain post-election wait for observers.