PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Elections Department announced Friday that more than 2,200 uncounted ballots from Tuesday’s jurisdictional elections were found during a routine post-election equipment inspection.
According to county officials, workers discovered two sealed boxes containing 2,288 ballot envelopes while unpacking and logging equipment used at voting locations. The boxes were mistakenly placed into a blue drop box instead of being returned to the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center on election night, as required under state law.
Officials said the seals on both boxes were intact, confirming the ballots had not been tampered with. A bipartisan team has since taken custody of the ballots for signature verification before they are added to the official count.
Once verified, the ballots will be included in updated election results expected later Friday, according to Maricopa County Elections Department spokeswoman Jennifer Liewer.
The discovery follows Tuesday’s jurisdictional elections, which included school bond measures, local ballot questions, and Proposition 409, which voters approved earlier this week.
More information about ballot processing and official results can be found on the Maricopa County Elections Department website.
