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Arizona’s Largest County Faces Election Oversight Dispute Amid Noncitizen Voting Claims and Legal Tensions
A judge said the ruling restores authority and resources to Heap, who has clashed with county supervisors over ballot access and election procedures.
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled this week to restore authority over election operations to Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, who said the decision "restores both the authority and the resources necessary for my office to do its job."
The ruling follows Heap's June 2025 lawsuit against the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, alleging the board negotiated to transfer staff, money and election functions away from his office.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes called Heap's use of the federal SAVE system "notoriously inaccurate," while critics warned his new signature verification process caused "huge" ballot rejection rates in November 2025.
With the July primary approaching, observers warn ongoing discord between election administrators creates confusion and distrust. Pinny Sheoran, state advocacy chair with the League of Women Voters of Arizona, said "the voters need to have a sense that this county is well-run."
Uncertainty persists in the pivotal battleground county as Heap maintains his office is "committed to full cooperation with the Department of Justice as it conducts its investigation" into election records.