A judge in Arizona has ruled in favour of Justin Heap, the Republican recorder of Maricopa County, in a dispute with the county board of supervisors over election administration. The decision grants Heap's office greater authority in running elections in the state's most populous county, which includes Phoenix and is a key battleground in US elections.
Heap sued the predominantly Republican board of supervisors last summer, alleging it had illegally taken control of certain election functions, including management of ballot drop boxes and early voting sites, through an agreement with his predecessor. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney found that the board had acted unlawfully by seizing the recorder's personnel, systems and equipment.
Judge Blaney ruled that the recorder's office is responsible for overseeing in-person early voting, while the board handles other operations such as selecting election day polling locations and hiring poll workers. The board chair, Kate Brophy McGee, said the board would consider an appeal, stating that it has provided Heap with the necessary resources to fulfil his duties.
Heap, a former Republican state lawmaker, was elected in 2024 after defeating incumbent Stephen Richer in the GOP primary. Richer has criticised Heap for contributing to an atmosphere of distrust following false claims of fraud in the 2020 and 2022 elections, which led to threats against election officials. Heap's lawsuit was backed by America First Legal, a conservative group founded by Stephen Miller.
