Maricopa County leader says deal with recorder is ‘huge win for our voters’

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee said the voters are the ultimate winners after a settlement was reached in the board’s yearlong battle with Recorder Justin Heap over election responsibilities.

“It’s a huge win for our voters,” Brophy McGee told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Wednesday, a day after the deal was approved.

The settlement puts an end to litigation that started when Heap filed a lawsuit against the governing board of Arizona’s largest county on June 12, 2025, and extended into the early voting period for next week’s primary election.

“Voters can walk in, be assured that they will vote, that their vote will count and move on with their lives. … This is not something voters should have to worry about, and we are finally back in that space,” Brophy McGee said.

Any disputes that may arise will be sorted out by Judge Christopher Coury, who oversaw the mediation sessions that led to the deal.

“So, we have a path forward to absolutely work through any problems that occur at the ground level. It gets the extra cooks out of the kitchen. There’s just one cook in the kitchen at a time. Again, I can’t stress how much of a huge win this is for Maricopa County voters,” Brophy McGee said.

How does new deal divide Maricopa County election duties?

Under the agreement, the Board of Supervisors will oversee emergency voting through 2028, all aspects of Election Day voting and tabulation of all ballots.

Meanwhile, the Recorder’s Office will control early in-person voting operations and add 12 staff positions related to early voting.

In addition, the Recorder’s Office will receive funding for its own IT system and staffing.

“The recorder has the assets he maintains that he needs to do his part, and we certainly have what we need for our experienced staff to do their part,” Brophy McGee said.

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