A hand recount of Maricopa County's 2020 presidential election vote has reiterated official results that showed Joe Biden won, an election audit draft report has said.
Auditors in Arizona found that the county's election had not been stolen from Donald Trump, as some of his supporter had claimed, and that the former president had lost by more votes than earlier official results declared.
The hand count found Trump won 45,469 fewer votes than Biden, whereas earlier county results showed he lost by 45,109—a relatively small discrepancy of 360.
It also gave Biden an extra 99 votes—up from 1,040,774 to 1,040,873.
Overall, the draft report shows there was less than a 1,000-vote difference between the county's certified ballot count and the hand count.
The report compiled by Cyber Ninjas, the Arizona Senate's lead contractor, and other subcontractors was obtained and reviewed by The Arizona Republic.
The 110-page report titled "Maricopa County Forensic Audit" recommends changes to state elections law and suggestions on how the county could better keep voter information updated, how it handles ballots and maintain voting machine security.
Cyber Ninjas were paid millions of dollars to carry out the audit by nonprofits set up Trump's allies and those in the "Stop the Steal" movement. Cyber Ninjas CEO, Doug Logan, has maintained that any payments would not influence the audit.
The final report is set to be given to state senators at about 1 p.m. E.T. on Friday.
Auditors in Arizona found that the county's election had not been stolen from Donald Trump, as some of his supporter had claimed, and that the former president had lost by more votes than earlier official results declared.
The hand count found Trump won 45,469 fewer votes than Biden, whereas earlier county results showed he lost by 45,109—a relatively small discrepancy of 360.
It also gave Biden an extra 99 votes—up from 1,040,774 to 1,040,873.
Overall, the draft report shows there was less than a 1,000-vote difference between the county's certified ballot count and the hand count.
The report compiled by Cyber Ninjas, the Arizona Senate's lead contractor, and other subcontractors was obtained and reviewed by The Arizona Republic.
The 110-page report titled "Maricopa County Forensic Audit" recommends changes to state elections law and suggestions on how the county could better keep voter information updated, how it handles ballots and maintain voting machine security.
Cyber Ninjas were paid millions of dollars to carry out the audit by nonprofits set up Trump's allies and those in the "Stop the Steal" movement. Cyber Ninjas CEO, Doug Logan, has maintained that any payments would not influence the audit.
The final report is set to be given to state senators at about 1 p.m. E.T. on Friday.
