Justin Heap

Arizona voters used a new ID-verification option for mail ballots during the primary election, with 23,000 in Maricopa County and over 6,000 in Pima County opting to show ID to speed up ballot counting. The process, which bypasses signature verification, led to faster results in Maricopa County but remains unproven as a long-term solution.

Election officials in Arizona's Maricopa County resolved a legal dispute over election administration responsibilities through a settlement agreement. The deal outlines roles for Recorder Justin Heap and the GOP-dominated board of supervisors in overseeing different aspects of the July 21 primary, including early voting and IT systems.

Election officials in Arizona's Maricopa County reached an agreement to jointly oversee elections, resolving a legal battle between the county recorder and a GOP-dominated board of supervisors. The settlement outlines an interim plan for the July 21 primary, with the recorder overseeing early voting and ballot drop box locations, while the board handles Election Day operations and funding a $15 million IT system.

Election officials in Arizona's Maricopa County reached a settlement to end a legal battle over election oversight. The agreement outlines roles for Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and the predominantly GOP board of supervisors in administering the July 21 primary, including Heap overseeing early voting and the board handling Election Day operations.

Maricopa County officials resolved a legal battle over election control with a detailed agreement separating their offices, ending a year-long dispute. The deal, enacted via a 3-1 vote, creates operational barriers between the board's elections department and the recorder's office but leaves uncertainty for the upcoming primary and 2026 midterms.

An election fight in Arizona could influence the nation’s midterms. A show of support for Maricopa County recorder Justin Heap occurred during a special meeting of the county’s Board of Supervisors in Phoenix in February.

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.