“Are you going to watch the election?” Maria asked. She was cleaning up the evening dishes. “I want to see who won before I go to work.”
"Is that tonight?" The television was playing some telenovela that Maria liked to watch. Juan had been on his cell phone, taking care of some issues for work.
“Ay, guau!” Maria’s expression of surprise was meant to tease. “All this talk about your first election, and you don’t even know what day it is?”
Juan laughed and aimed the remote at the TV, changing the channel to Univision.
The Univision studio had been transformed into an “Election Headquarters” complete with large screens and maps displaying the incoming election results. The anchors talked excitedly about exit polls and early results. The race was still too close to call, but it was clear that it was shaping up to be a great night for Joe Biden.
“I’ve got to go.” Maria placed some leftovers in her lunchpail. “If they get done before you go to bed, text me and let me know who won, OK?”
Juan promised, kissed her, and walked her to the door.
"Oh, wait a minute," Maria said. They were beginning to call the states in the Eastern time zones. Kentucky came in for Trump, followed by Vermont and Georgia, with resounding wins for Biden.
Maria looked at her watch. "It's early. I can stay and watch a little longer."
Virginia came in with a narrow win for Biden, and the anchors were going wild speculating on the significance of that development. They were watching South Carolina numbers creeping up when breaking news interrupted the broadcast.
“Good evening, I’m Juan Rodriguez, and this is Breaking News Tonight on Univision. Our top story: allegations of election fraud in Maricopa County, Arizona, have surfaced, causing a stir on social media.”
What’s this? Juan thought. Arizona’s in the news?
The broadcaster continued with dramatic urgency, “A poll watcher, Sarah O’Neill, claims to have witnessed irregularities at a voting center during the recent election. According to an Instagram post, she reported discrepancies in ballot counts, citing an extra 200 ballots and drop boxes allegedly containing sealed ballots before they were placed.”
“Madre de Dios!” Juan shouted at the TV. “I thought I saw something wrong!”
There was a rapid back-and-forth exchange in Spanish so fast that Juan could barely follow it. “Multiple County officials are supporting these claims, stating that O’Neill contacted the authorities properly and claims to have credible witnesses who can confirm her allegations."
"That's me!" Juan pointed excitedly at his chest as he told the story to Maria. "That's what I saw today! I told Sarah I saw some guys delivering dropboxes improperly!"
They cut to a live shot at a different location. "The Communications Director of the Maricopa County Board of Elections is confirming that between 90 and 95 percent of the late votes coming in are breaking for Trump. The Arizona Republican Party is refuting O'Neill's assertions, denying any report of extra ballots. They are claiming this is the most transparent vote in US history."
Once again, Juan thought about what Tio Pablo had told him about Arizona’s elections, “Votes don’t make Presidents,” he’d said. “I do.”
"Despite the social media uproar, officials from multiple agencies affirm that there is no evidence of fraudulent ballot counts or insecure drop boxes in Maricopa County," a lady reporter back in the newsroom said smugly. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and verifying information before spreading claims of election irregularities."
"Are you kidding me?" Juan shouted. "I saw it with my own eyes!"