Most Arizonans oppose audit of Maricopa County election, poll finds

PHOENIX — A majority of Arizonans oppose the audit of Maricopa County’s 2020 November election ordered by state Senate Republicans, according to a new poll.

The poll conducted May 20-23 by HighGround Public Affairs found that 55.2% of those likely to vote in the 2022 general election oppose the audit, while 40.8% support it. Meanwhile, 4% of respondents said they don’t know their opinion on the audit or refused to answer.

Senate Republicans claim the audit will restore voter confidence, while opponents contend that Republicans are still bitter Donald Trump lost the presidency.

The survey found Republicans stand alone in support of the audit, likely to cater to their base.

“They’re probably getting rapturous applause for the audit because 77% of their audience supports them,” Paul Bentz, HighGround senior vice president of research and strategy, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“But if they get outside of these precinct meetings and start looking at the electorate that’s likely to show up in 2022, it creates a much steeper hill for them to climb.”

A majority of Republicans (76.9%) support the audit, according to the poll, while Democratic voters are overwhelmingly in opposition (90.5%), and more than two-thirds of Independent and unaffiliated voters (67.7%) are opposed as well.

The survey also found 44.5% of those surveyed were less likely to support candidates who support the audit, with 51.1% of independents part of that group.

“Those independent and unaffiliated voters that they need to win statewide office, and win in some of these swing districts, are not with them,” Bentz said.

“The sooner that Republicans can focus on broader issues, and avoid some of these pitfalls like the audit, the better their electoral chances will be.”

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