Secure cages and Swat teams: Arizona county’s drastic steps to protect the vote

Extraordinary measures turn Maricopa county elections office into fortress ahead of 2024 vote to protect staff and ballots

Maricopa county, Arizona – a campaign battleground where election workers have faced violent threats – has taken extraordinary measures to protect its staff and the counting of ballots.

The Guardian obtained a document from the county listing security changes it has made since the 2020 election. Those include stationing a Swat team on-site at the main building where votes are tabulated and deploying the sheriff on horseback.