Overview
- On July 2 Supervisor Steve Gallardo publicly demanded that Recorder Justin Heap resign, saying Heap’s actions risk making the upcoming primary harder to run and that outside groups are steering the recorder’s office.
- The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved an early‑voting plan that increases vote centers from 12 to 16 to preserve access ahead of the July 21 primary.
- The dispute is tied up in court: a Maricopa Superior Court judge ordered core election functions returned to the recorder, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a stay citing election timing, and the case is now headed to the Arizona Supreme Court.
- Operational and investigatory concerns have multiplied, including a special prosecutor probe into two Recorder’s Office employees seen removing a ballot scanner, incorrect mailers sent to about 83,000 voters, and questions about high numbers of signature rejections in a 2025 election.
- County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is challenging outside lawyer James Rogers and America First Legal’s role in the recorder’s office, a fight that could shape who runs election operations and affect voter trust as mediation continues before the primary.