Barbed wire. Thick black iron fence. Metal detectors. Armed security forces. Bomb disposal.

Security at this center, where workers count ballots, mirrors what one might see at an airport — or even a prison. And if necessary, there are plans to further strengthen security by deploying drones, officers on horseback and police snipers on rooftops.

Maricopa County became the center of election conspiracy theories during the 2020 presidential campaign after Donald Trump spread baseless claims of voter fraud as he lost the state to Joe Biden by fewer than 11,000 votes.

Falsehoods went viral, armed protesters flooded the building where ballots were being counted, and a flood of lawsuits and audits aimed at challenging the results.

The aftermath of the election changed the way officials here handle the normally mundane process of counting ballots, ushering in a new era of high security.

“We are treating this like a major event, like the Super Bowl,” Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner told the BBC.

Skinner said the county, the fourth largest in the U.S. and home to about 60% of Arizona's voters, has been planning the election for more than a year.

The sheriff's department handles security at polling stations and the center where ballots are counted. Deputies have now been trained in election laws, which most law enforcement agencies would not be well versed with.

“We hope it doesn't get to the point where it becomes necessary,” he said when asked about increased security measures such as drones and snipers. “But we will be prepared to make sure we meet the needs to ensure the safety of this building and its employees.”

In many ways, the electoral process here mirrors that in counties across the country. Ballots are dropped off at polling locations throughout the county and then brought to a central area in Phoenix where they are tabulated. When mailed in, the ballot papers are viewed and the signatures are checked. They are counted in a careful process in which two employees – from different political parties – sort them and check for any errors.

The trial will be livestreamed 24 hours a day.

While much of this process remains the same, much else has changed. Since the 2020 election, a new law has been passed making it easier to call a recount in the state. Previously, if a race was decided with a narrow majority of 0.1% of the votes cast, a recount took place. This has now been increased to 0.5%.

The tabulation center is now full of surveillance cameras, armed security guards and double fencing.

Thick canvas blankets cover portions of a parking lot fence to keep out prying eyes. Officials say the screen was an additional measure to protect employees from harassment and threats outside the building.

“I think it's sad that we have to do something like this,” said Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates.

Gates, a Republican who says he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after election threats he received in the 2020 election, does not plan to run for office again after the election because of the tensions.

“I want people to understand that voting centers are not militarized zones,” he told the BBC. “You can feel safe to go there with your family and your children and participate in democracy.”

The district has invested millions since 2020. It's not just about safety. You now have a 30-person communications team.

A big focus has been on transparency — livestreaming hours of tabulation machine testing, offering dozens of public tours of its buildings and recruiting staff to dispute online rumors and election conspiracies.

“We kind of flipped a switch,” deputy district manager Zach Schira told the BBC, explaining that after 2020 they decided, “Okay, we're going to communicate about every single part of this process, we're going to expose every single one.” Theory, that’s out there.”

All of this led to the election on Tuesday.

“We may be overprepared,” Sheriff Skinner said, “but I prefer to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Some Maricopa Republicans told the BBC they had been following recent changes and thought there would be fewer problems this election cycle.

“They've taken steps that I think will help,” said Garrett Ludwick, a 25-year-old who recently attended a rally for Trump's vice presidential candidate JD Vance in Scottsdale.

“Now more people are aware of things, too, and I think there's going to be a lot of people who are going to be watching everything like a hawk,” he said, wearing a Trump hat with the slogan “Make Liberals Cry.”

One Republican voter, Edward, told the BBC the 2020 cycle made him want to get more involved. He has now signed up for two shifts at polling places in Maricopa County on Tuesday.

“Going to a rally or getting upset is not going to fix things,” he said. “I wanted to be part of the solution.”

Not everyone is convinced.

“I still think it was rigged,” said Maleesa Meyers, 55, who, like some Republican voters, said their distrust of the process was too deep-rooted to believe the election could be fair. “It’s very difficult to trust anyone today.”

Results in Arizona often hinge on Maricopa County, giving the county an outsized role in the outcome. Officials here estimate it could take up to 13 days to count all the ballots — meaning the expected close race in this swing state may not be played on election night.

“There is a possibility that in 2024 the whole world will be waiting to see the outcome in Maricopa County,” said Schira, the deputy county manager.

“In fact, the world’s trust in democracy may be due to this.”