Maricopa County Recorder Jeff Heap has made significant changes to his office, downsizing the external communications team and shifting focus away from combating election misinformation. This move marks a departure from the previous administration's more active approach to addressing disinformation and online threats.
Maricopa County Recorder, Jeff Heap , has significantly reduced his external communications staff, eliminating the salaries and positions of six employees. This move comes as Heap shifts away from the previous administration's focus on combating misinformation and online threats related to elections.
Previously, the office had actively engaged in correcting false information and defending the integrity of elections, but Heap believes it is not the government's role to police online 'misinformation.'\Heap's predecessor, Stephen Richer, had maintained a more active stance against disinformation, collaborating with law enforcement and directly addressing false claims on social media. Richer's approach reflected the heightened scrutiny and threats faced by election officials in Maricopa County since the 2020 election. Heap, however, has expressed a different view, stating that voter distrust stems from perceived issues within the state's voting system rather than the spread of misinformation.\Despite not explicitly endorsing claims of election fraud, Heap has acknowledged the need for improvements to bolster voter confidence. He has proposed several measures, including removing inactive voters from the rolls and allowing extended observation of signature verification processes. Heap's decision to downsize the external communications team and prioritize internal system improvements reflects a strategic shift in how he intends to address the challenges facing Maricopa County's elections
Maricopa County Elections Disinformation Jeff Heap Stephen Richer Voting Integrity
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