Election Records Handed Over to the FBI in Maricopa County, Arizona, Could Be Fatally Flawed, Experts Say

ProPublica
by Jen Fifield
March 12, 2026
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5 min read

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The Bottom Line

Experts say Maricopa County election data given to the FBI is likely flawed, risking public confidence.

How This Affects You

Public confidence in election security and future legal proceedings could be undermined due to flawed election data.

AI Summary

The FBI received digital data related to a partisan audit of Maricopa County, Arizona's 2020 election from Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen this week, not actual ballots. This data, which may include scans and photos of ballots, originated from the Cyber Ninjas firm, which conducted an audit funded by Trump allies and privately admitted its ballot recounts were "screwy." Election experts, including Ryan Macias, state that any investigation based on this data would be "fatally flawed" and risks "further degradation of public confidence." Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes believes the contractor's sloppy procedures make it unlikely a court would accept these records as evidence of irregularities.

What's Being Done

The FBI received digital data from a partisan audit of Maricopa County's 2020 election.

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