Maricopa Board Approves 12 Ballot Drop Boxes as Fight with Recorder Moves to Appeals
Kris Mayes rejected the recorder’s criminal‑liability warnings and backed established drop‑box practice as the county prepares to appeal a court order.
Overview
- The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted Friday to designate 12 ballot drop‑box sites for the upcoming early voting period without formal sign‑off from Recorder Justin Heap.
- A Superior Court ruling in April said certain election duties must move from the Board to the Recorder and the Board has asked the Arizona Court of Appeals to review that decision.
- Heap’s attorney warned that only the Recorder can authorize drop boxes and threatened criminal liability for handling ballots from locations the Recorder did not approve.
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sent a letter rejecting those threats, saying the Board followed the state’s Elections Procedures Manual and that county workers would not face criminal charges for collecting ballots.
- County officials say the boxes will be placed at city halls and other monitored sites and that elections staff are carrying out operational plans while the legal dispute and appeals continue.