Maricopa County officials ended a yearlong court fight Tuesday by approving a settlement that divides election administration between Recorder Justin Heap and the county Board of Supervisors while committing millions of taxpayer dollars to expanded staffing and technology.
The agreement approved July 14 puts Heap’s office in charge of early in-person voting, including site selection, equipment and staffing, beginning with the 2026 general election. The board’s Elections Department will retain control of Election Day voting and ballot tabulation. Emergency voting remains delegated to the board through the 2028 election cycle.
The settlement requires the board to fund 12 new early-voting positions and a 24-person information technology staff for the recorder. It authorizes up to $15 million for a separate technology system, including $11.5 million in new county funding and $3.5 million from legislative appropriations or grants. The agreement targets Dec. 31 for migration after the general election canvass.
The July 21 primary will not be governed by the permanent division. Instead, a 12-point interim plan approved by the Arizona Supreme Court governs the election already underway. Early in-person voting ended July 17, while signature verification and ballot processing continue.
Heap sued the Republican-led board in June 2025, alleging it had unlawfully shifted election functions, personnel and systems away from his office. The board previously called the case frivolous and accused Heap of wasting taxpayer money. The two sides reached the deal through mediation led by Judge Christopher Coury.
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said the settlement gets officials “out of the courtroom.” Democratic Supervisor Steve Gallardo cast the lone dissent in the 3-1 vote, arguing the arrangement creates two election departments at taxpayer expense. Any future settlement dispute will go to Coury, with review limited to a special action before the Arizona Supreme Court.
