Arizona judge backs key Republican election official in voting board fight
Summary
An Arizona judge ruled that the county’s top election official should regain control over key parts of running elections after a legal dispute with the local election board. The judge said the board acted outside the law by taking control of staff and systems from the election official’s office.Key Facts
- The dispute involves Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populated county, which includes Phoenix.
- Justin Heap, the Republican county recorder, sued the county board of supervisors last summer.
- Heap claimed the board illegally took control of election resources like staff and ballot drop box management.
- Judge Scott Blaney mostly agreed with Heap, ordering the board to return personnel and equipment.
- The judge clarified that the recorder’s office should manage early in-person voting, while the board handles things like picking polling places and hiring poll workers.
- Board chair Kate Brophy McGee, also a Republican, plans to consider appealing the decision.
- Heap was elected in 2024 and ended an agreement that shifted election duties between the two offices.
- The lawsuit was supported by America First Legal, a conservative legal group.
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