The chairman of one county’s Board of Supervisors decided to certify the results of the midterm elections held on November 8 “under duress,” stating that he was threatened with jail time if he did not.
“I vote ‘aye’ under duress. I found out today that I have no choice but to vote ‘Aye’ or I will be arrested and charged with a felony,” Ron Gould said while casting his vote. “I don’t think that that is what the founders had in mind when they used the democratic process to elect our leaders.I find that very disheartening,” he concluded.
“MINUTES AWAY Mohave County Board reconvenes at 2pm to discuss/vote on certifying the county’s midterm election results. Board members now know that Secretary of State Katie Hobbs will sue Cochise County for refusing to certify by today’s mandated deadline,” Brahm Resnik reported.
MINUTES AWAY Mohave County Board reconvenes at 2pm to discuss/vote on certifying county's midterm election results. Board members now know that Secretary of State Katie Hobbs will sue Cochise County for refusing to certify by today's mandated deadline. https://t.co/aeYZ5kCrh2
— Brahm Resnik (@brahmresnik) November 28, 2022
It is unclear why or by whom Gould believed he could face jail time for failing to vote to certify. The media have reportedly requested comments from Gould.
Kari Lake’s campaign posted footage of Gould on Twitter:
Breaking
“I found out today that I have no choice but to vote “Aye” or I will be arrested and charged with a felony.”
Ron Gould of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors was told he would be arrested if he did not certify the election.
Mohave was certified under duress,” Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) posted on Twitter on November 29, 2022.
🚨 Breaking 🚨
"I found out today that I have no choice but to vote "Aye" or I will be arrested and charged with a felony."
Ron Gould of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors was told he would be arrested if he did not certify the election.
Mohave was certified under duress. pic.twitter.com/Urt0aWIiyM
— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) November 29, 2022
Ben Whedon reported the following for Just The News:
Gould was hardly the only official to certify election results “under duress.” Fellow board supervisor Hildy Angius similarly stated she might face legal action for not certifying the outcome and further indicated a wish to prevent disenfranchising voters. She did express hope about the results in her own county, but identified Maricopa County as a source of concern.
“Delaying this vote again will only prolong the agony without actually changing anything,” she said, according to local outlet Havasu News. “What we certify here today is only Mohave County’s vote. I’m confident about this county under (Mohave County Elections Director) Allen Tempert and (County Recorder Kristi Blair). To not certify this election at all, I think, was never our intent. It would certainly disenfranchise the voters of Mohave County and hurt our candidates who worked so hard to get elected.”
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
“I suggest that in the coming months and years we work with our state legislature to make the changes we need, both for our county and for our state, and to make our voices heard,” she continued. “Arizona — and that is Maricopa County — is the laughingstock of the country and the world. And they don’t even seem to care, which is even more frightening. I will vote to certify this canvass under duress for the chaos Maricopa County has forced into our election process.” CONTINUE READING…