An election worker in Maricopa County, Arizona has been arrested for allegedly stealing a digital magnetic key that can be used for accessing the county’s vote-counting machines. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) held a press conference Tuesday that was light on details but stressed to the public that they’re prepared for whatever might happen as the 2024 presidential election looms.
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Walter Ringfield Jr., a 27-year-old from Phoenix, was working a temporary job at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) when someone noticed on June 20 that a red lanyard containing keys and a digital fob for voting equipment had gone missing. After reviewing surveillance footage Ringfield was identified as the person who picked up the keys around 5 p.m. local time that day, according to a press release from MCSO.
Screenshots from the surveillance footage were provided by MCSO to Gizmodo, appearing to show Ringfield grabbing the keys.
Screenshot of security camera footage provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office appearing to show Ringfield taking keys that allegedly unlock vote-counting machines
Image: Maricopa County Seriff’s Office
“When confronted by his employer, Ringfield denied the theft, but then suggested the lanyard might be in his car ‘if’ he had mistakenly taken it,” MCSO explained in a press release. “A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a red lanyard and a matching plastic tag, but the fob remained missing.”
Ringfield was arrested the following day at his home, where the arresting officers “observed a red plastic item consistent with the missing lanyard inside his vehicle.” MCSO alleges Ringfield admitted at that point to taking the fob.
The concern over the fob, or the “digital magnetic key” as it was later described, is that it has the potential to allow someone to alter vote tallies. Former president Donald Trump has made baseless claims that he actually won the election in 2020, claims that have been litigated repeatedly in courts across the country, where no election fraud has been found.
County officials held up a digital key during the press conference as an example of what was allegedly stolen. After discovering one was missing, election officials immediately reprogrammed all of the system’s keys.
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“From my understanding, the stolen digital magnetic key is something that has the potential to actually log into the tabulation machines at MCTEC. So you can understand the concern and the implication that might have,” Sheriff Russ Skinner said during a press conference that was livestreamed on Facebook Tuesday.
Whatever happens with Ringfield, officials in Maricopa County clearly want to give the impression that they’re on top of election security in the lead up to November’s election. And that makes sense, given all the lies Trump and his goons are spreading right now.
“Let me make this clear, MCSO and our partnership will stand vigilant and take the necessary actions to ensure our community, our staff, and our facilities remain safe and secure throughout the election cycle,” Skinner said.