Activist Sues Pima County Over RTA Next Vote Certification

John Brakey alleges discrepancies in voter rolls and ballot counts in the recent transportation plan election.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:52pm

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty government building in Tucson, Arizona, with warm sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of solitude and nostalgia.The legal battle over Pima County's election certification exposes lingering concerns about transparency in local politics.Tucson Today

A Tucson-based election transparency activist named John Brakey has filed a lawsuit against Pima County, Arizona, alleging discrepancies in the voter rolls and ballot counts related to the recent election that approved the RTA Next transportation plan. Brakey, who leads the organization AUDIT USA, is asking county officials to explain the alleged issues and allow an audit of the results.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about election integrity and transparency, even in local races like the RTA Next vote. Brakey has a history of challenging election results in Arizona, though his legal efforts have had mixed success. The outcome of this case could impact public trust in the county's electoral process.

The details

In his complaint, Brakey alleges that around 5,000 voters were removed from the county's registered voter list on the final day of ballot counting. He also claims that approximately 500 ballots were added to the Elections Department totals without a corresponding transfer record from the Recorder's Office, until he alerted the county to the discrepancy. Brakey is asking the court to compel Pima County officials to explain these alleged issues and allow an audit of the results against the county's ballot images and Cast Vote Records.

  • The Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to certify the March 10 RTA Next election results on March 24.
  • Brakey filed the lawsuit against the county on March 30.
  • A Pima County judge gave Brakey and the county until April 9 to come to an agreement, and did not schedule a hearing in the case.

The players

John Brakey

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, who leads the election transparency organization AUDIT USA. Brakey has a history of challenging election results in Arizona.

Pima County Board of Supervisors

The county officials who voted to certify the RTA Next election results, and are now being sued by Brakey.

Gabriella Cazares-Kelly

The Pima County Recorder, who is also named as a defendant in Brakey's lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not asking you to overturn this election and I'm not alleging fraud. I am asking for something much simpler. Before you certify this election, take a short pause and verify it using the records that your system already produces.”

— John Brakey, Activist

What’s next

A Pima County judge has given Brakey and the county until April 9 to come to an agreement, and has not scheduled a hearing in the case. The outcome of this lawsuit could impact public trust in the county's electoral process.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions around election integrity and transparency, even at the local level. While Brakey has a history of challenging election results, his allegations of voter roll discrepancies and ballot count issues raise questions that Pima County officials will need to address to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.