Maricopa County, Arizona, has once again been thrust into the spotlight of election denialism. President Donald Trump has labeled it ‘very, very dishonest’, and extremist activists are leveraging old tropes to sow distrust. The latest incident involves a video claiming Maricopa County election workers were tampering with equipment. Despite the FBI’s quick dismissal, the rumour mill continues to churn, with conservative figures like Kari Lake and We the People USA Alliance stoking the flames of doubt.

No evidence of widespread voter fraud has ever surfaced in Maricopa County, yet the narrative persists. The latest rumour was posted on X, a social media platform, and quickly gained traction. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors issued a statement debunking the claims, but it fell on deaf ears as the Republican National Committee and the county recorder took the matter to the FBI. The FBI’s investigation was swift and closed, but the conspiracy theories remain.

The enduring nature of these conspiracies is a testament to the power of repetition and familiar tropes. Kate Starbird, from the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington, notes that Maricopa County has become a symbol of election issues, making it a go-to setting for conspiracy theories. The county, however, has always maintained that the allegations are unfounded. As the midterms approach, the saga of Maricopa County continues to loom large in the world of election denialism.