The most detailed look yet at the 'exodus' of local voting officials
A new report finds more election officials are leaving their jobs now than at any point in the past two decades. But the report also adds new context to the phenomenon.
Stephen Richer has never run a presidential election before.
He oversees voting as the county recorder in Arizona's largest county, Maricopa County, and took office in 2021.
Yet as November approaches in this closely scrutinized swing state, Richer finds himself looking across the profession and realizing he's essentially an old-timer.
"There are 15 recorders in 15 counties ... and I'm already, I think, fifth-most senior or fourth-most senior of the 15," Richer told NPR recently, at an by the Campaign Legal Center. "So, yeah, [turnover] is real."
