Maricopa County Board Offers Recorder Help, $550,000 for Signature Verification

The board wants to coordinate with the Recorder's Office on early in-person voting despite past differences.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is offering to work with the county's Republican Recorder, Justin Heap, on early in-person voting efforts for the upcoming midterm primaries. The board has also approved a $550,000 budget increase for Heap's signature verification efforts, despite ongoing disagreements between the two entities over election duties and a Shared Services Agreement.

Why it matters

Coordination between the county supervisors and the recorder is crucial for ensuring a smooth and secure election process, especially with early voting starting in just a few months. The board's offer of assistance and additional funding highlights the importance of putting aside past differences to prioritize fair and efficient elections.

The details

The Republican-led Maricopa County Board of Supervisors sent a letter to Recorder Justin Heap, a fellow Republican, requesting to coordinate on early in-person voting efforts. The board operates Election Day voting, while Heap has stated he must oversee early in-person voting. The board also approved a $550,000 budget increase for Heap's signature verification efforts, despite some concerns about his new process. The two entities have been unable to reach a Shared Services Agreement since Heap took office in 2025, but the board is now seeking to work together to ensure sufficient resources are in place for the 2026 primary elections.

  • Early voting for the July 21 primary elections begins on June 24, 2026.
  • The board asked Heap to respond to their letter about early voting by February 27, 2026.

The players

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors

The governing body of Maricopa County, Arizona, responsible for overseeing elections and coordinating with the county Recorder's Office.

Justin Heap

The Republican Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, responsible for overseeing early in-person voting and signature verification efforts.

Kate Brophy McGee

The chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Debbie Lesko

The vice chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

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What they’re saying

“We need to start working together very quickly on the various duties that both the recorder and the elections department execute.”

— Kate Brophy McGee, Chair, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (KTAR News 92.3 FM)

“Signature verification is under the complete and total control of the recorder. While we have questions about the recorder's new process, we will proceed with the recorder's budget requests to ensure sufficient resources are in place by the 2026 primary. Our top goal is fair and secure elections.”

— Kate Brophy McGee, Chair, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (Press release)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of cooperation between county supervisors and the recorder to ensure a smooth and secure election process, even in the face of past differences. The board's offer of assistance and additional funding for signature verification efforts demonstrates a commitment to prioritizing fair and efficient elections for the community.