Justin Heap

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in favor of Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, rejecting the county board of supervisors' attempt to claim election duties. The court vacated an appeals court decision and reinstated injunctions requiring the board to fund Heap's office expenses. The dispute centers on Arizona law dividing election responsibilities between the board and the recorder, with Heap terminating an agreement that shifted IT control to the board.

Maricopa County expanded early voting sites ahead of the primary election, a move celebrated by advocates as a win for voting access. The decision follows ongoing disputes between the county board and Recorder Justin Heap over control of early voting processes, with a recent court ruling maintaining the board's authority.

A Democratic campaign to enshrine mail-in voting rights in Arizona's constitution failed to collect enough valid signatures for the November ballot. Protect the Vote Arizona gathered 439,000 signatures but fell short of the 383,923 valid signatures required. State Rep. Alexander Kolodin, author of a Republican ballot referral, celebrated the initiative's failure, claiming it was a rejection of 'California-style' election chaos.

The Arizona Court of Appeals paused a ruling favoring Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap in his legal dispute with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors over election control. The appellate court's decision, based on the Purcell principle, aims to prevent disruptions to the upcoming primary election by delaying implementation of a lower court's order requiring the board to return election functions to Heap's office.

A special prosecutor is investigating whether employees of the Maricopa County Recorder's Office violated laws by removing a scanner and provisional ballot envelopes from the vote tabulation center during a local election. The dispute involves Recorder Justin Heap's claim of ownership of the scanner and a legal battle with the county's board of supervisors over election control, as the 2024 primary approaches.

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap has filed a request to hold the county’s board of supervisors in civil contempt, citing non-compliance with a court order to return election-related functions and IT staff to his office. The dispute has escalated with recent conflicts over voter communication and ballot drop box locations as the state primary approaches.

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap referred 207 alleged noncitizen voters to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office after a legal dispute. The AG’s office had threatened legal action if Heap did not comply with state law, citing his use of the SAVE database to identify voters, which experts have criticized as unreliable.

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap sent a letter warning of criminal penalties for handling ballots from 'unauthorized' drop boxes, escalating a dispute with the county Board of Supervisors over election administration. The Board criticized Heap's actions as 'shocking' and 'outrageous,' while his office accused the Board of attempting to control drop box locations.

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap's potential control over election IT infrastructure raises concerns about partisan influence and voter data security. A court ruling could grant Heap authority over the system, with critics alleging ties to Donald Trump's election conspiracy efforts and misuse of sensitive voter information.

Arizona's Maricopa County, the state's most populous, faces election uncertainty as Republican Justin Heap, an election skeptic, gains more authority over election operations following a court ruling. Heap's controversial actions, including a signature-checking system and use of a federal database to identify noncitizens, have sparked legal disputes and criticism from officials, raising concerns about the integrity of the 2026 midterms in a key political battleground.

An Arizona judge ruled in favor of Republican election official Justin Heap, granting him more authority in Maricopa County elections. The decision could influence Arizona's status as a key battleground state in upcoming high-profile races, amid ongoing election conspiracy theories following the 2020 presidential election.