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Maricopa County is preparing for another critical election cycle, and that work deserves clarity, collaboration, and transparency centered on the voters we serve.
Recent discussions regarding early voting locations have raised two legitimate and important concerns.
First, Arizona law contains some ambiguity regarding the “officer in charge of elections” and the division of responsibilities between the Board of Supervisors and the County Recorder. While that legal framework has at times created differing interpretations, the Board recently adopted a resolution delegating nearly all early voting responsibilities to the Recorder. This action reinforces the importance of coordination and shared accountability as implementation moves forward.
Second, the timeline to finalize early voting locations, staffing, and logistics must remain realistic and aligned with proven election planning practices. Executing a successful election requires coordination across departments, vendors, and community partners, and deadlines should support thoughtful collaboration while maintaining the normal pace of preparation.
For context, during the 2024 election cycle, final early voting locations were approved and publicly released on June 17, 2024, well in advance of early voting beginning. Following a similar planning timeline that accounts for the changes in the election schedule helps ensure operational readiness and voter confidence.
Importantly, the Board has not approved any early voting locations. The locations currently under discussion are proposals only, and no final decisions have been made. Regardless of the back-and-forth or expressed frustrations from the Recorder's office and the Board Chair, we are making progress and working together. It may not be perfect, but it is happening.
Given the complexity of election operations and the shared responsibility involved, there is still ample time for the Recorder to provide feedback. We have a reasonable window of time to gather the Recorder’s feedback and a commitment to work collaboratively to refine location recommendations and ensure the selections are operationally sound and accessible to voters.
Equally important, proposed early voting locations should be reviewed in an open public session. Voters deserve to see the decision-making process, understand the rationale behind site selection, and hear directly from both the Board and the Recorder. Transparency strengthens trust and improves outcomes.
As we land on mutually agreed locations, I will be recommending that the Chair schedule a new public discussion date that includes the Recorder and team. Our focus should remain on solving operational challenges first, while deemphasizing politics.
With collaboration, clear communication, and public transparency, we will execute.
The good news is, our shared goal is simple: deliver a best-in-class early voting experience for every voter in Maricopa County.
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Contact:
Kristy Dohnel
kristy.dohnel@maricopa.gov
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