Secretary of State Adrian Fontes completed the latest stops on his statewide tour last week, with visits to Pinal, Apache and Navajo counties. The tour is part of Secretary Fontes’ commitment to support all 15 Arizona counties, which are responsible for much of the hard work of running elections, as they prepare for the next big election cycle in 2024. Secretary Fontes said, “The hardworking women and men that I’ve met with over the last few days are an inspiration to all Arizonans, and make me confident that no matter the challenges, we will be prepared for the 2024 elections. As Secretary of State, I am committed to providing the training, technical assistance, and other support they need to maintain and expand access to the ballot for all eligible voters. I thank the elections staff, county recorders and local elected officials for taking the time to meet with me and my team, and for giving invaluable insight into county-specific issues that will enable my office to better serve the people—regardless of where they live in our state.” Secretary Fontes started the latest leg of his tour in Florence, then traveled to St. Johns before coming to Holbrook, joining Recorder Michael Sample, Elections Director Rayleen Richards, Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai and staff. Topics of discussion included future training opportunities for election workers, the need for increased digital security against threats from foreign and non-state actors, and the need for language access for members of Arizona’s tribal nations and communities.
