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UpdateArizonaFriday, October 16, 2026

Maricopa County Recorder's Office asked FBI to investigate conspiracy group claim

Reporting by
KJZZ Politics
“Maricopa County Recorder’s Office asked FBI to investigate claims from election conspiracy group”, Friday, October 16, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

The Maricopa County Recorder's Office asked the FBI to investigate a viral claim from We the People AZ Alliance, a far-right Arizona group with a history of election conspiracy theories. The group posted a video suggesting two county election employees working late at night were engaged in wrongdoing. Shelby Busch, a group leader and Maricopa County Republican Committee official, contacted the Recorder's Office.1

Chief of staff Sam Stone and chief deputy recorder Jeffrey Mason filed an FBI complaint, which was referred to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.1

What it means in Arizona

What this means for Arizona voters

The county board of supervisors receives the results from the county recorder, canvasses them and sends them to the Secretary of State.2 The Secretary of State receives the county results, canvasses the statewide results and certifies them, with the Governor, the Attorney General and the Chief Justice as witnesses.2

Key dates in Arizona

Election Day in 6 days
  1. Mon, Oct 5 · passed
    Registration deadline
  2. Wed, Oct 7 · passed
    Early voting begins
  3. Fri, Oct 23 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  4. Tue, Nov 3 · 6 days
    Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive
  5. Thu, Nov 19 · 22 days
    County/Local certification
  6. Mon, Nov 23 · 26 days
    State certification

Every date in Arizona, and who certifies the election

The answers behind this
Who runs elections, and who can't interfereVoting in Arizona, 2026Who certifies the election in Arizona, and by when?How are votes counted and certified in Arizona?

Explore this issue

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Sources

  1. KJZZ Politics, https://kjzz.org/elections/2026-10-15/maricopa-county-recorders-office-asked-fbi-to-investigate-claims-from-election-conspiracy-group · Friday, October 16, 2026
  2. Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/

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