Apache County Voters Detail Election Day Problems at Chinle Hearing

Residents of Apache County gathered at Navajo Technical University in Chinle on a Monday night to recount what Navajo Department of Justice assistant attorney general Katherine Belzowski called "probably one of the worst election cycles" she had seen in eight years working on state and federal elections. The hearing focused on voter disenfranchisement experienced by Navajo Nation communities during the November 2024 general election, and the accounts were specific and damning.

Testimony from a witness identified as Gorman illustrated how multiple failures compounded on Election Day. An express voting machine malfunctioned for Gorman, producing only a repeated message that offered no meaningful translation of the ballot. When Gorman sought assistance with complex ballot measures, the situation worsened: translations for items related to abortion rights were described as inaccurate and culturally insensitive. Gorman's experience was not isolated. The hearing surfaced a broader pattern of voter registration errors, geographic discrepancies, and physical accessibility barriers that left elders and people with disabilities unable to participate effectively.

The logistical breakdown was widespread. Voting machines malfunctioned across the county, provisional ballots ran out quickly, and lines stretched to three hours. Some voters ultimately left without casting a ballot. Navajo leaders publicly urged people to stay in line rather than abandon the process.

The Navajo Nation filed its first lawsuit against Apache County late on Election Day, seeking a two-hour extension of voting times. A court partly granted the request, but the extension applied only to nine Navajo Nation chapters specifically listed in the complaint. Voters in other Navajo Nation areas of the county received no such relief.

Belzowski did not soften her assessment of what took place. "It was a failure of democracy in Apache County and for reasons that are still unclear to us," she said. "Apache County voters deserve the right to know their vote is counted." Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley directed her remarks squarely at the county: "We hope Apache County will take responsibility for the many failures of the 2024 general election and work with the Navajo Nation to protect the rights of Navajo voters in Apache County."

One suggested cause, raised by Navajo leaders and reported separately, was a poll book update performed the day before the election, though Belzowski emphasized that the exact reasons remain unclear to Navajo officials.

The challenges described in Chinle were not unique to Apache County. A witness identified as Branch, who previously served as Navajo attorney general under former President Russell Begaye, said the Navajo Nation has faced similar difficulties across every Arizona county where Navajo communities are located. Ballot curing, according to available accounts, did not begin until after Election Day had concluded, adding another layer of procedural concern to an already troubled election cycle.