Walter Ringfield, a temporary worker at the Maricopa County elections office, was charged with theft and criminal damage after he stole a security fob and keys that provided access to software used during the election tabulation process, CNN reports. The man was seen on security cams walking by a cubicle, then reaching inside and taking a set of keys on a lanyard from the cubicle.
After a search of Ringfield’s car turned up nothing, police obtained a search warrant for his home, where the stolen items were found. Because of security protocols, all the fobs and the secure tablets they were assigned to must be reprogramed, an effort that will cost the county at least $19,000. Ringfield’s motive for stealing the keys and security fob are still unknown.
“Our systems are not only designed to detect anomalies but are also supported by dedicated professionals committed to upholding the democratic process. While this event is unwelcome, it speaks the effectiveness of the security protocols built into Arizona’s election systems,” the office said in a statement that will trigger innumerable conspiracy theories.