ARIZONA, United States — The outcome of the United States election is being keenly watched among seven swing states, including this one where officials have increased security and transparency efforts to mitigate a repeat of 2020.

Next Tuesday, eyes will literally be on Nate Young, chief information officer at the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, and his team as voters will get a chance to watch the counting of ballots.

“You can see 21 of our livestream cameras that are in our Maricopa Tabulation Centre that allow [people] to see the process as it goes through. You return your ballot to us, you can actually see exactly what is happening,” Young told journalists at his office on Thursday.

He said his team has used 2020 as a learning lesson by increasing security and pushing back against malinformation.

“From what we have learned in the 2020 election we have done several additional things to make not only the people who work for us are safe in doing their [job], but also the building itself. We have added permit fencing to the Tabulation Building. We have also included separate temporary fencing that we put up, and it [is] out there right now. We have robust cyber security measures in place to ensure that the county’s resources we use for the voter registration system and our network are not going to be compromised. We also go through a series of exercises before this election session where we try and game out scenarios that could be problematic for us,” he said.

He explained that it will take days for the counting of ballots there to be collected for processing.

“The reason it takes us a little while to count ballots is because of the current law on the books in Arizona. We actually are one of the states that is able to receive early ballots on election day. We are looking upwards of 300,000 on those ballots being dropped off,” he said.

“We have to go through a process of checking those signatures. We also have to have a five-day curing process, so if somebody signs a ballot and we can’t prove that it is [his/her] signature and we have a question about that signature, we have to give them five days in order to contact us to say that it is their signature and that they are good to go,” he added.

Maricopa County is the third-largest voting jurisdiction, with a voter registration of more than 2.6 million electors up to October 30.

“We have never had a full 100 per cent count on election day, but it is back to Arizona being a swing state. People and the media won’t call Arizona, because our margins are so narrow and the margins of victory are so narrow,” he explained.

With just three days until the United States election day, the battle for American voters has increased as the race for the White House between US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic party candidate, and Republican former President Donald Trump intensifies.

Arizona was previously considered a red state in favour of the Republicans, but it is now regarded as one of seven swing states.

Young said he and his team ensure accurate information is available to the public.

“We are trying to get as much information out to people as possible, especially with the two-page ballots that we have to work with right now, that is something new for the Maricopa County voter. We haven’t had to deal with more than a one-page ballot in 20 years, so that was a challenge for us to try and get the information about what that would entail for the voter out there,” he said.

He, meanwhile, commended his dedicated staff for the tremendous work they have been doing.

“They don’t have to work here. They could probably find another job that is a lot less stressful and provides a little less anxiety at times, but they are here for a purpose. They are here to protect democracy and provide the Maricopa County voters with the most opportunity that they can to cast their ballot and to vote for the candidates that they support,” said Young.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a live interview with US commentator Tucker Carlson in the finale of the Tucker Carlson Live Tour at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on October 31, 2024. (Photo: AFP)