Arizona's GOP-led ballot audit to be paused temporarily

The Republican-led Arizona state Senate audit of the 2020 election in the state's most populous county will have to be paused on Friday because the firms conducting the review of ballots must clear the facility being used so that high school graduations can take place in the venue.

Despite prior multiple state audits that found no issues of concern in the 2020 election, the Arizona Senate ordered another review, taking possession of Maricopa County's nearly 2.1 million ballots and almost 400 election machines by subpoena earlier this year. The audit is being run by companies that include one whose CEO promoted debunked election fraud theories after the election.  The ballots and equipment will need to be stored until workers can return to the facility next weekend. About 25% of the ballots have been reviewed so far.