Arizona House Election Committee heard testimony from citizens today about the mess that was the Arizona primary.
By the way, apparently they’re still cross-checking and counting provisional ballots. They say they are going to look into problems with mis-information in the voter database.
I’m not going to write a complete recap since I’ve posted the full hearing videos (1 and 2) below.
At the end they ended without hearing from everyone. People were very angry and reconvened up in the gallery where all hell broke loose as this tweet person was able to capture on video.
PHOENIX (AP) — Dozens of voters and activists upset about long lines and delays at polls during Arizona's presidential primary vented their anger Monday at a state House hearing and later in the chamber gallery where a protester was hauled out in handcuffs by state police.
Earlier, the top election officials in Arizona and its largest county took responsibility for the problems last week that led Democrats to ask for a federal voting rights investigation into whether poor and minority voter were disproportionately affected.
The angry crowd descended on the House Elections Committee as it heard testimony about a decision by the state to cut funding for polling places that saw the number drop in Maricopa County — the home of Phoenix and most of the state population — from about 200 in 2012 to just 60.
A number of angry voters testified at the packed hearing and erupted in cheers as speakers called for reforms in Arizona's election system.
After the panel adjourned without hearing testimony from everyone who wanted to speak, Democrats invited them up the House gallery, where things got heated.
"People were overexcited, if you will, and they wanted to make sure their voices were heard," said Democratic Rep. Jonathan Larkin. "And it was the decision of the majority party here to not let testimony continue."
State police spokesman Capt. Damon Cecil said one man was arrested for trespassing after the chanting crowd in the gallery disrupted other House proceedings. He refused to leave and laid down on the floor, where officers put him in handcuffs and carried him away
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