A legal battle over control of election functions in Maricopa County has intensified, with Recorder Justin Heap asking a judge to hold the county’s Board of Supervisors in contempt of court and impose steep financial penalties for alleged noncompliance.
In a court filing submitted Friday, Heap argued that the board has failed to follow an April ruling that addressed authority over key election-related operations, including information technology systems and personnel tied to the recorder’s office.
The dispute traces back to late 2024, when then-Recorder Stephen Richer approved an agreement transferring oversight of certain election infrastructure, including IT staff, servers and voter registration systems, to the Board of Supervisors. After taking office in January 2025, Heap terminated the arrangement and filed a lawsuit seeking to regain control of those resources.
A judge ruled in April that the board must either return the systems and personnel or provide funding to replace them. The ruling also prohibited the board from assuming election responsibilities assigned by Arizona law to the recorder’s office.
Heap’s latest filing contends that the board has not complied with those directives. According to the motion, county officials have not returned the requested IT resources and have withheld millions of dollars in state and federal election-related funding. The recorder also challenged a recent board resolution authorizing early ballot drop boxes for the 2026 primary election, arguing that authority rests solely with his office.
The filing asks the court to require compliance within five days and seeks fines of at least $100,000 per day if the board continues to defy the order. Heap is also requesting reimbursement for legal fees.
The Board of Supervisors rejected the accusations. In a statement, Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said county leaders have attempted to meet with Heap to resolve outstanding issues ahead of the 2026 election cycle but have not received a response.
Brophy McGee said the board remains focused on maintaining a secure and transparent election system and expressed support for county election staff.
The dispute unfolds as Maricopa County prepares for the July 21 primary election, with both sides continuing to spar over the division of election responsibilities.
