Guests - Alex Kolodin, JL Wittenbraker, Joel Strabala
Election Day Chaos in Pima County: Observers Barred, Integrity at Stake
Pima County made national headlines on November 5, 2025, not for record turnout but for barring election observers from polling sites—a move branded as "third world, banana Republic style" by state Representative Alex Kolodin. Host Kathleen Winn opened Winn Tucson with breaking news: Republicans and Democrats alike were turned away starting at 6 a.m., despite prior sign-ups and Arizona law mandating observer access wherever voting occurs.
Alex Kolodin: "This Is International Election Integrity 101"
Kolodin, a candidate for Arizona Secretary of State and architect of multiple election reform bills, joined Winn to dissect the crisis. He argued the exclusion violates Arizona Revised Statutes and basic democratic norms.
"My view of Arizona law is that it requires observers be permitted everywhere voting takes place. When the Carter Center sends observers to Sub-Saharan Africa, they expect access. If denied, the election is deemed neither free nor fair."
Pima County stands alone among Arizona's 15 counties in banning observers from early in-person sites and Election Day "ballot replacement" locations. Kolodin called the staffing shortage excuse "BS," noting elections aren't surprises and understaffing only heightens the need for oversight.
He urged Republicans to "swamp the vote" by flooding two confirmed exclusion sites:
Udall Center: 7200 East Tanque Verde Road
Randolph Park: 900 South Randolph Way
"The only eyes on the process will be voters themselves. Pima County isn't brazen enough to turn away voters."
Kolodin framed the chaos as deliberate Democratic Socialist strategy—endorsed by the recorder herself—to dispirit conservatives. He vowed Pima County cleanup as his top priority if elected Secretary of State, citing decades of poor administration, unclean voter rolls, and resistance to reform.
JL Wittenbraker: "Tucson Needs Diversity of Thought"
Ward 3 candidate JL Wittenbraker, who knocked on thousands of doors, told Winn the city council's lockstep voting has created a silo of failed policies. She spoke with Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike—all demanding change.
"The consensus is Tucson needs diversity of thought. Decisions are made without challenge. What we're doing isn't working."
Wittenbraker highlighted Ward 3 as ground zero for council neglect:
Site of proposed "safe sleeping" zones and pallet cities
Home to sprawling homeless encampments in washes and parks
Prime location for mental health housing
"Low voter turnout drives decisions placating a tiny demographic. If the 2027 council sees engagement, they'll respond to all of us—not just 24%."
She decried the $37 million budget deficit despite near-doubling spending in four years. Fare-free transit, linked to bus violence, costs $30 million annually when including security and cleanup. Public safety took a $4 million cut, including police overtime bans—punishment, she said, for rejecting Proposition 414.
"They cut court costs too. It's smoke and mirrors."
Wittenbraker called for common-sense voices willing to compromise, warning that low turnout lets radicals dominate. She promised to mentor future candidates, including a county recorder challenger, if elected.
Joel Strabala: "The Recorder Changed the Rules at 5 A.M."
Pima County GOP election board member Joel Strabala revealed the bait-and-switch: everyone assumed the elections department would run vote centers. Instead, the recorder took control, citing an October 2 policy letter applying early voting rules—no observers—to Election Day.
"We sent observer lists yesterday. The elections department acknowledged them. Nobody told us to send them to the recorder too."
Strabala reported observers turned away as late as 10 a.m., with the excuse persisting: insufficient staff. He uncovered another issue—22,900 school district voters (32% of the electorate) typically opt out of mail ballots but were unilaterally enrolled in the all-mail system.
"Were they disenfranchised? These voters don't typically mail ballots. The recorder claims they were sent them anyway."
He questioned the term "ballot replacement sites," absent from Arizona statutes or the election procedures manual. Thirteen locations operated under this new label, functioning as in-person vote centers despite claims of an all-mail election.
Ballot Drop-Off Logistics and Voter Privacy Concerns
Many voters refused to mail ballots exposing signatures and phone numbers on outer envelopes—a consolidated design unique to late-adopting counties like Pima. Strabala clarified drop-box options:
240 North Stone (two drive-up, one walk-up)
Broadway & Kolb (drive-up near Gaslight Theater)
Boxes lock at 7 p.m. per ARS 16-57. In general elections, party affiliation can't be determined from affidavit envelopes, unlike primaries.
National Context: New York City Parallels
Author Mark Beckman, calling from Manhattan, drew direct parallels to New York City's mayoral race. He voted for Andrew Cuomo over communist-backed Zohran Mamdani, despite flaws.
"Mamdani has zero experience running anything. Communism promises everything free, delivers death and destruction."
Beckman condemned free transit policies—identical to Tucson's—as taxpayer-funded crime magnets. He expressed shock at Pima's observer ban, noting New York requires no ID to vote.
"Real ID for planes, but not to elect officials? Insane."
The Path Forward: Turnout as Protest
Winn closed with a battle cry: Pima County's antics—from unclean rolls to 6,000+ homeless ballots delivered to the recorder's office—demand response through participation.
"If you're Republican and don't vote, it's a vote for Democrats. We've had enough. Change starts with two seats."
The DOJ was notified by 6 a.m. National news twice in one week. As Strabala put it: "We're the redheaded stepchild of Arizona elections."
Voters have until 7 p.m. to prove them wrong.