Arizona presidential preference vote results to get official stamp

PHOENIX — Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan was expected to certify the results of the state’s problematic presidential preference election on Monday.

Last week, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors certified the results.

The official canvass will trigger an opportunity for candidates or individual voters to challenge the results.

The March 22 voting prompted lines in Maricopa County, where some in metro Phoenix waited in line as long as five hours to cast their ballots.

County election officials attributed the lines to having drastically reduced the number of polling places. In a money-saving decision, the number dropped from 200 in a previous preference election to 60 this time around.

Reagan, the state’s top election official, and Helen Purcell, Maricopa County recorder, apologized for the lengthy process. Reagan launched an investigation, which revealed that aside from an inadequate number of polling sites, there were computer errors and other technical mishaps.

Democrat Bernie Sanders’ camp was considering a challenge. Sanders’ supporters believed he might gain additional delegates to the Democratic convention because many provisional ballots were thrown out in Maricopa County.

An appeal can only be filed within five days of the secretary of state certifying the results, according to Arizona law, but challenges are a difficult pursuit.

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump won in Arizona.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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