Arizona Maricopa County Recorder Election Duties Dispute

A lawsuit to compel the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to return funding and election management responsibilities to the county recorder.

Background

Justin Heap, the Maricopa County recorder (R), is suing the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (“BOS”) to force them to return certain election management responsibilities and funding that the former recorder ceded to the board in an agreement last year before leaving office. Heap claims that the BOS is usurping his statutory authority in violation of Arizona law and is trying to unlawfully seize “near-total control” over the administration of elections by refusing to provide the recorder’s office with necessary funding. He asks the court to order the BOS to fund all necessary expenses incurred by the recorder and declare that any election authority delegated to the county recorder should remain unless the recorder says otherwise. 

Why It Matters

This lawsuit is part of an on-going dispute between Heap and the BOS over an agreement concerning the delegation of election management responsibilities that was executed shortly before Heap took office. The rancor between Heap and the board could undermine the county’s preparedness for the 2026 elections.

Latest Updates

• June 12, 2025: Plaintiff filed his complaint.