Kari Lake casts her ballot — and encourages others to vote early

After disparaging early voting as part of broader claims questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 and 2022 elections, U.S Senate hopeful Kari Lake cast a ballot in Scottsdale, the second day of early voting in Arizona — and she encouraged others to vote early as well.

Lake cast her ballot at Indian School Park in Scottsdale on Thursday morning, the day after her debate against her Democratic challenger, Rep. Ruben Gallego.

Lake told reporters that she’d still prefer a single Election Day rather than Arizona’s options to vote early by mail or in person — what she derided as “election season.”

“As much as I wish we could go back the way we used to do it, which was Election Day, paper ballots, small precincts, and we knew on election night the results, that's just not the world we're living in right now,” Lake said.

She still discouraged voting by mail, warning that ballots are too valuable to place in the care of the Postal Service.

“As much as I hate drop boxes, I would put it in a drop box this go around,” she added.

Even while running for Senate, Lake continued pursuing legal challenges of her 2022 loss, claiming misconduct in Maricopa County cost her the governor’s race.

She dodged questions about whether she’s accepted the loss, which she has not yet conceded, during Wednesday’s debate.