Officials say a temporary elections employee stole a security fob from Maricopa County's vote tabulation headquarters last week.
Walter Ringfield, a 27-year-old Phoenix resident who isn’t currently registered as a member of a political party in Arizona, took the fob on the evening of June 20 from the facility, officials said. In a statement, officials said the fob was recovered and they will reprogram and retest election equipment to “ensure the integrity” of the upcoming state primary.
"The security fobs are used in conjunction with special secure tablets during the election," Maricopa County Sheriff's Office detectives said in court documents. "A director at the facility stated that the estimated cost of the reprogramming would be greater than $19,000 dollars, and the secure operation of the facility is greatly impeded until the reprogramming is complete."
A Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed Ringfield was in custody on the morning of June 24. Court documents show he is charged with felony criminal damage and misdemeanor theft, and that a search warrant was executed on his home.He is being held without bail, according to court documents.
https://www.azfamily.com/video/2024/06/24/man-accused-theft-maricopa-county-ballot-center/
https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/06/24/temp-worker-stole-maricopa-county-election-center-officials-say/74193596007/