At a recent meeting of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, community members voiced their concerns regarding transparency and voting rights. Resident Alison Morris brought attention to significant issues related to the approval of minutes from the August 5, 2025, meeting, noting that there was an omission in the public call. She stressed the importance of maintaining accurate records and called for enhanced transparency, especially about election discussions.

Morris also pointed out delays in posting notices for special meetings, which she believed hindered public participation. She specifically mentioned that a meeting on tax rates was announced only a day prior, rather than the usual week’s notice. Additionally, she expressed worries over the lack of public access to discussions that occur in executive sessions. She urged the board to make recordings and documents from those sessions available for public review.

Following Morris, Tamara Lou Burch passionately defended voting rights, advocating for the maintenance of the voting center and opposing a shift back to more precincts. Burch argued that the current system fosters voter participation and should not be altered without strong justification. She also discussed the importance of email-in voting as a means to boost voter turnout.

In response to the public comments, the Board agreed to review the minutes for potential amendments and committed to improving transparency in future meetings. The meeting also included the approval of several funding agreements, which encompassed significant allocations for adult and juvenile probation services, alongside mother and child health programs.

As Cochise County addresses these urgent matters, the emphasis on transparency and the safeguarding of voting rights remains a top priority for residents, highlighting their ongoing commitment to community engagement and accountability in local governance.

The Supervisory Committee Meeting is set to take place on August 19, 2025.