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politics17h ago
Arizona midterms begin with spotlight on largest county's controversial election system
Pbs.org and 1 more
- Maricopa County's election-oversight feud intensified under Recorder Justin Heap, who reshaped procedures and clashed with the county board of supervisors over control of election operations.
- Heap rewired mail-ballot signature checks, requiring bipartisan review and additional scrutiny for questionable signatures to speed and secure processing.
- Officials warn that expanding signature checks could lead to otherwise eligible ballots being rejected, raising concerns about voter confidence.
- Heap defended the approach as faster and more secure, insisting that 'the signatures either match or they don't.'
- The county's use of the DHS SAVE system to flag possible noncitizens drew criticism over accuracy, with officials noting it is not a reliable basis for removing voters.
- Heap highlighted findings of noncitizen voters from the SAVE system (137 identified, 60 who voted previously) to justify heightened scrutiny of rolls.
- AP reporting underscores that Maricopa County remains pivotal for statewide outcomes and has long attracted election-conspiracy critiques.
- Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes warned the SAVE system is unreliable for taking voters off rolls or starting removals, signaling broader concerns about accuracy.
- Legal tensions between Heap and the county board have drawn scrutiny from state and federal levels, including DOJ inquiries and related litigation.
- With the July primary looming, observers fear the discord could erode public confidence in elections and complicate turnout in a key battleground county.
- Heap has sought federal engagement, signaling openness to DoJ cooperation while pursuing local control reforms and transparency in election operations.
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