Pro-Trump demonstrators gather at Phoenix elections office

Hundreds of President Trump’s supporters gathered outside Arizona’s largest county’s elections office Wednesday night, calling for votes to be fully counted.

The demonstrators chanted denunciations of Fox News, which called Arizona for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ahead of other networks Tuesday night, according to KTAR News.

The Associated Press also called the race for the former vice president early Wednesday morning. Other networks have not yet called the race, however.

Continued counts have shown Biden’s lead narrowing but persisting in the battleground state. If the lead holds, it would be the first time the state has gone for a Democrat since 1996 and the first time Maricopa County has voted for one since 1948.

Protesters also chanted “count those votes” and referenced conspiracy theories about ballots filled out with Sharpies not being counted. The claim, which originated with a viral video on Facebook, has been debunked by Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D).

The Maricopa County Elections Department announced late Wednesday evening that it had closed the building amid concerns about unrest outside but that the vote count would continue.

“Staff at the @maricopacounty Elections Department will continue our job, which is to administer elections in the second largest voting jurisdiction in the county. We will release results again tonight as planned,” the county said in a tweet. “We thank the @mcsoaz for doing their job, so we can do ours,” the county added, tagging the sheriff’s department.

Staff at the @maricopacounty Elections Department will continue our job, which is to administer elections in the second largest voting jurisdiction in the county. We will release results again tonight as planned. We thank the @mcsoaz for doing their job, so we can do ours.

— Maricopa County Elections Department (@MaricopaVote) November 5, 2020