Arizona midterms spotlight Maricopa County's controversial election oversight

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona's midterm elections are under scrutiny as Maricopa County's election system faces controversy. Republican Justin Heap, an election skeptic, is overseeing his first statewide election amid a legal feud with the county board of supervisors regarding election procedures. Heap has implemented a contentious signature verification process for mail ballots and has used a federal system to check voter citizenship, despite concerns about its accuracy.

A ruling this week has granted Heap increased authority over election operations, intensifying the power struggle with the board, which is majority Republican. State Sen. Lauren Kuby, a Democrat, expressed concern over the discord, stating, "We're one of the biggest counties in the country, and we have all of our election administrators fighting right now. So I imagine if you're a voter, you're pretty confused and worried." Heap's office did not respond to requests for comment but stated that the court ruling "restores both the authority and the resources necessary for my office to do its job."

Heap's contentious relationship with the board escalated after he sued them in June 2025, alleging they conspired to undermine his office's authority. The board's chair, Kate Brophy McGee, indicated they might appeal the recent ruling, which they previously labeled as frivolous. Heap's new signature verification policy has raised alarms among officials, with Supervisor Thomas Galvin warning of a potential "looming disaster" due to increased ballot rejection rates. Heap defends the policy as faster and more secure.

Heap's office has also utilized the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's SAVE system to identify noncitizen voters, claiming to have found 137 registered voters who are not U.S. citizens. However, Arizona's Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, criticized the system's reliability, suggesting it could undermine voter confidence. Heap's cooperation with the Trump administration has further fueled concerns about election integrity, with state officials warning against sharing voter information with federal authorities.

What to watch: The upcoming decision on whether the county board will appeal the recent court ruling could significantly impact election oversight in Maricopa County.