Officials in Arizona's Maricopa County have settled a legal battle over election oversight, agreeing on a framework for jointly managing voting processes. The settlement was approved by the county's predominantly Republican board of supervisors this week following mediated negotiations.
Republican County Recorder Justin Heap filed a lawsuit in June 2025, alleging the board had illegally seized control of certain election administration duties. The board had characterized the suit as frivolous and a waste of taxpayer funds. Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee stated that the agreement would end the legal conflict, expressing relief that the county would no longer be the subject of public attention for such disputes.
Heap indicated his goal was to ensure his office's statutory responsibilities were upheld legally. "I am pleased we have reached an agreement that, when implemented, will restore those responsibilities and establish a clear framework for administering elections moving forward," Heap said in a joint statement.
The agreement establishes an interim plan, previously approved by the Arizona Supreme Court, to guide the upcoming July 21 primary election. Early voting commenced in late June.
Under the terms of the settlement, Heap's office will manage key aspects of early voting, including the selection of ballot drop box locations. The board of supervisors will be responsible for Election Day voting operations, ballot tabulation, and maintaining voting equipment. Additionally, the board will finance a new $15 million information technology system and associated positions for the recorder's office.
Hep's lawsuit was supported by America First Legal, a conservative advocacy group. He had contended that the board, through an agreement with his predecessor, had transferred funding, IT staff, and critical functions such as drop box management and early voting site establishment away from his office.
Hip, who won the 2024 general election after defeating incumbent Stephen Richer in the GOP primary, has previously expressed concerns about voter trust in the state's voting system, calling it poorly run, though he has stopped short of echoing claims that the 2020 and 2022 elections were fraudulent. Richer, also a Republican, had consistently defended the integrity of those elections.
Democratic Supervisor Steve Gallardo opposed the settlement, voting against its approval. During the board meeting, Gallardo criticized Heap, stating, "Honestly, I don’t think he wants to have an election that is conducted transparent or even an election that’s not compromised. Now, with this, he owns it."