Phoenix Election Dispute
Phoenix – A prominent election official is taking legal action against the Maricopa County Executive Board, claiming they are trying to assert more control over election management. This county is considered one of the key swing areas in the nation.
The lawsuit was filed in state court on Thursday by County Recorder Justin Heap. Heap, a former Republican state lawmaker, has raised concerns about the management of elections in Arizona’s most populous county, finding himself at odds with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors over a deal to divide election operations between their offices.
Since taking office in January, Heap has terminated a previous contract with the board established by his predecessor. In his lawsuit, he argues that his authority to conduct elections has been undermined, pointing to reductions in funding and IT resources for the recorder’s office.
The agreement made last year also gave the board significant control over early voting processes, which Heap has criticized in his case.
Heap is requesting the court to annul what he describes as “illegal” actions by the board, demanding that they allocate necessary funding for election operations.
“My commitment is to ensure free, fair, and honest elections for all voters in Maricopa County, even in the face of misinformation and public doubts. While it’s not technically my job, it’s what I believe is right,” Heap stated on Thursday.
The board’s chairman and vice-chairman have labeled the lawsuit as frivolous and accused Heap of squandering taxpayer funds by pursuing this legal route. They noted that discussions between the offices had been ongoing since the beginning of the year and mentioned that things seemed to be progressing well after an April meeting. However, just weeks later, Heap returned with a so-called final offer, which included numerous modifications.
In the lawsuit, Heap alleges that the board dismissed a proposed agreement made in late May. A statement from America First Legal mentioned that the board has altered key responsibilities of Heap and approved a temporary budget that does not include provisions for the recorder’s office.
Board chair Thomas Galvin suggested that Heap has failed to understand his role, stating, “From the start, Recorder Heap has made commitments that the law does not permit him to uphold.” He emphasized that Arizona’s election laws require a balance of power between the supervisor and the county recorder.
Since the 2020 presidential election, Maricopa County has become a focal point for various election conspiracy theories. While Heap has not claimed that the elections of 2020 and 2022 were fraudulent, he has expressed concerns about the state’s methods for managing early votes and questioned the processes for transporting, processing, and securing ballots once they are cast. Last year, Heap put forward a bill aimed at altering Arizona’s efforts to maintain a voter registry, which ultimately failed.
Heap’s predecessor, Stephen Richer, has defended the integrity of the 2020 and 2022 elections amidst various GOP discussions. In those elections, Democrats, including former President Joe Biden and Governor Katie Hobbs, narrowly won in the state. However, Trump secured victories in Arizona during the 2024 elections along with other competitive states.
