On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Arizona's Maricopa County closed the counting room to the media and the public over security concerns after Donald Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, gathered outside the building. Reporters present at the scene reported this.
According to an NBC News correspondent who left the building in the evening, the crowd «claiming that the president's votes had been stolen grew louder and louder.» Republican Congressman Paul Gosard was seen among the protesters.
Despite this, the staff of the election commission stressed that the counting of ballots will continue to go according to plan, and the results will be reported as soon as they become known.
We have left the Maricopa Election Center. Staff there says they have NOT been evacuated & will stay there until they post results. That being said, as our crew left the crowd of protestors claiming the vote was being stolen from the president had grown larger & louder. @NBCNews
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) November 5, 2020
“@Maricopacounty Election Staff will continue our work of administering elections in the second largest electoral jurisdiction in the district. — said in a statement tweeted Wednesday night — We thank [the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office] for his work in allowing us to continue ours. «
The group yelling “you are fake news” and profanities to press behind the caution tape who's been inside reporting on the Arizona election results. #azfamily pic.twitter.com/hebH5SmmS8
— Briana Whitney (@BrianaWhitney) November 5, 2020
According to the NYT, Joe Biden is currently ahead of Donald Trump in Arizona with 50.5% of the vote. In total, 86% of the votes have already been counted.
