Arizona audit update: Follow me here today. I am signed up to be a volunteer observer for the first 6-hour shift of the hand count.

My shift is supposed to start at 8 a.m.
I'm not sure how this will go.

For one: The rules are changing rapidly.

At first, I was told that I wouldn't be able to record anything, but the observers would be able to take notes. Then, they said no note taking allowed.
Think about trying to be somewhere for 6 hours, observe what is happening, and then write it down later.

Human brains forget very quickly. Even trained ones (journalists).

Would it be worth it?
Off to an interesting start. Got in line to go into coliseum and was told they aren’t letting people in yet because they don’t have the list of observers ready.

Meanwhile the line behind me is stretched out onto McDowell backing up traffic.
They told us to get here 30 minutes before our shift.

We are still in this line outside waiting to get in.
I can’t take my cell phone in today. Hoping they let us go to our car when we want so I can write stuff down and update you all here. I plan to try to find out the rules at the door and update before I go in.
We are all still waiting here (15 min now) to get in.

Here’s the livestream that you can watch to follow what happens inside the coliseum today. azaudit.org

I’m watching now like 👀👀👀 don’t y’all start without us.
Update.

Audit is supposed to start right now, 8 am. No observers have been let in the gate yet.

Just turned off my car. I’ve been sitting here for 40 minutes.
Best update yet: @kc_haas and I just figured out she is in the car behind me. Say hi! 👋
Line is moving. Woman with list.
I got in. But several people are being turned away. I found out what happened. The original signup sheet was on Google. When Google shut their gmail down, they lost their entire list. Those people are being turned away. For some reason, I was not, even though I used Google form.
I am in the doors but not through checkpoint.

I am checking my purse and belongings soon. I will be able to take breaks and give updates here.
I just talked to Doug Logan with Cyber Ninjas trying to get @kc_haas in. We went through the same process to sign up but I was let in and she was not.
I’m checking my purse in a minute. I have been told we will watch a training video before starting. I will be trying to update frequently. No photos or I would.
I am taking a short break. Posting an update soon on azcentral.com.

Observers just got a brief verbal training. We were told to make sure counters were marking votes correctly.

Test ballots go first. Then the goal is to count one real box of ballots per table today.
I noticed the counters had blue pens. Supposed to only have red when you’re around ballots since ballots can read black and blue ink.

Those blue pens the counters have could potentially be used to mark the ballots.

I pointed this out to Doug Logan with Cyber Ninjas...
Doug is running this audit. He told me that his understanding was that blue ink was fine - that the ballots only read black ink.

Then he came back and said actually it seems I am correct. But he still seemed unsure. He said that they would work on this.
I want to note that I didn’t submit letters of recommendation. I got in during the first Google sign in group when they weren’t asking for that. Never told to submit. Never asked that here.
Watch azcentral.com for an update soon.

One other note. I was told absolutely no pen or notebooks on the floor. Then I noticed another observer had a notepad. He said no one stopped him.

Later out of guilt I guess he went and checked it. But the security was not...
Clear to each person that they had to hand everything over.

Anyway, I’m going back in. Watch for me on the screen on azaudit.org. I’m in a black blazer. The observers are all in orange.
One last note. Can we start a hashtag #letkyrain @kc_haas went through the same exact process I did but was not allowed in as an observer.
I’ve been banned from further updates until my shift is over.
Hi! Checking back into the real world. Will update ASAP.

They are still working on their first few boxes.

Overall, a lot of questions about the procedures and a few changes being make sure chain of custody on ballots is maintained.
One quick update. They switched to green and red pens before the actual real ballots were out on the floor.
Thanks so much for following today. I now have a print deadline to meet!

Before I lose you, please subscribe to azcentral.com and support local journalism.
cm.azcentral.com/specialoffer/?…
Thanks everyone for following today. To get alllllll the details, read this! (may be updated later, too)
azcentral.com/story/news/pol…

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More from @JenAFifield

24 Apr
After having some time to fully digest what all went down yesterday as the Senate’s contractors began to count ballots, I wanted to try to clear a few things up.
For one, I was told multiple times by Doug Logan of Cyber Ninjas and Ken Bennett, the Senate’s liaison, that they want this audit to go well and procedures to happen correctly.

It was clear all day those two were trying their best to make it fair and accurate.
Both Bennett and Logan were kind to me throughout the day and treated me like other observers. The same cannot be said about some of the contractors in there, who would not give me their names.

We will continue to work to find out all of the parties in charge and involved.
Read 8 tweets
20 Apr
Arizona Senate audit update: Maricopa County will begin dropping off all 2.1 million ballots at the coliseum around noon tomorrow for the Senate's audit.
The county made the Senate agree to some terms first.

Like, they had to promise the county wouldn't be held liable for what happens once the Senate has the ballots. Image
The county hired a company to set up the large ballot tabulators for the Senate. Image
Read 5 tweets
5 Nov 20
Today I was at the ground level watching as misinformation spread first locally and then nationally about voter fraud in Maricopa County.

I have some thoughts.
First, no idea when I first got the innocent question from @jboehm_NEWS ‘Can you use Sharpie on a ballot?’

Would lead to this.
We both kind of remembered that Sharpie was Ok. But I just looked up what the county has on its website and sent it to her.

Yep. Sharpie is fine.

We both went back to work, unassuming.
Read 9 tweets
4 Nov 20
Maricopa County Democrats lead all the way down the ballot, including in many positions Republicans have traditionally led.

"Tonight we finished the job and we turned Maricopa County blue" - Steven Slugocki, Chairman of Maricopa County Democratic Party
Here's my story about many county spots:
azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
Here's @ujohnnyg with initial results showing Sheriff Penzone leading in his race azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
Read 4 tweets
3 Nov 20
I'm seeing a few long lines out there for voters in Maricopa County.

Just a reminder that you can check the wait time for a vote center before you head out using the search tool at locations.maricopa.vote
For example, we have heard of lines in downtown Scottsdale all day. There's definitely a wait there right now. But look at two other nearby locations ...
Another example, Surprise City Hall has had a line. 30 minutes right now.

But look at another location 2.5 miles from there. No wait.
Read 4 tweets

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