What happened
A Maricopa County judge ruled that the board of supervisors illegally seized control of election operations from the county recorder’s office.
Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney found that the board “acted unlawfully and exceeded its statutory authority by seizing the Recorder’s personnel, systems and equipment and refusing to return them.”
Why it matters: Maricopa County is the fourth-largest in the United States by population and the most closely watched county in America’s most competitive swing state. Who controls voting operations here shapes how 2.5 million registered voters cast their ballots in November.
The dispute
Recorder Justin Heap, a Republican, sued the predominantly Republican board of supervisors last year. He alleged the board had transferred IT staff, funding and key functions away from his office through a deal negotiated with his predecessor, whom Heap had defeated in a GOP primary.
The transferred responsibilities included management of ballot drop boxes and establishment of early voting sites.
What the ruling changes
Blaney ruled that the recorder’s office is responsible for overseeing in-person early voting. The board retains control of Election Day operations, including selecting polling locations and hiring poll workers.
“The Board’s assertion of plenary authority over election administration through its general supervisory powers is inconsistent with Arizona law,” Blaney wrote.
What happens next
Board Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee said the board will consider an appeal. If the ruling stands, Heap’s office will control early voting operations for the 2026 midterms, which include a competitive US Senate race and several battleground House districts.
The case highlights an unusual dynamic: both sides of the dispute are Republican, but they disagree on who should hold authority over the mechanics of voting in a county that has been at the centre of election disputes since 2020.