Maricopa County board chairman encourages legal challenges to election

PHOENIX – Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates said he welcomes legal challenges to the 2022 general election results and will abide by any court rulings.

“I have never had a problem with people going to court,” Gates told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday. “I encourage that, because that’s where people can go and present evidence and testimony under oath.”

On Monday, Gates and the rest of the board in Arizona’s largest county certified the results of the Nov. 8 election during a meeting where multiple speakers used the public comments period to call for a revote.

“I’m very grateful for all the people who came yesterday to speak,” said Gates, one of four Republicans on the five-member board.

Gates said evidence presented at the meeting by county officials showed the voting was “safe, accurate and secure” and that every ballot cast was counted despite Election Day printer and tabulation issues.

“If a court rules that something needs to change, that there are additional votes that need to be counted or don’t need to be counted, this board will, of course, respect the ruling of the court and proceed accordingly,” Gates said.

Gates just hopes that once the legal process runs its course, people will move on, something that didn’t happen in 2020.

“But I encourage everyone that feels like they should have their day in court to go have their day in court,” he said. “That’s how the system works.”

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