Maricopa County’s long-running election fight spilled back into public view on Tuesday, as County Recorder Justin Heap filed an emergency motion asking a judge to slam the brakes on a criminal probe into one of his staffers. Heap’s filing accuses the Board of Supervisors of singling out Recorder’s Office personnel and demands the return of disputed election equipment with the July 21 primary fast approaching.
Heap asks the court to stop the probe
In the emergency court filing, Heap’s attorney said Pinal County sheriff’s deputies showed up at the home of the Recorder’s chief information officer on June 6 to tell him he was under investigation. The motion, filed by attorney James Rogers, asks the judge to order supervisors to hand over two disputed scanners and to prohibit the board from initiating or participating in any criminal investigation of recorder staff, according to KJZZ.
Scanner, envelopes and the HR review
The Board says security footage from March 12 at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center shows two Recorder’s Office employees wheeling a pre-tabulation scanner into an unmarked pickup and returning roughly 50 minutes later. County officials say the machine was later replaced at a cost of about $70,000. Investigators also reported that a staffer removed what appeared to be several provisional-ballot affidavit envelopes from a secure area, though a follow-up count found ballots and envelopes were accounted for.
Heap has blasted the scrutiny as unfair. “The targeting of my staff is completely unacceptable,” he said in a statement, as reported by AZFamily.
Board pushes back and points to elections authority
Supervisors counter that the scanners were under the control of the county Elections Department and say an internal HR review raised security concerns that could not be ignored. They say the matter was referred to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for legal review and that outside counsel was appointed because of conflicts of interest.
The board has also moved to set policies clarifying which office makes election decisions when a shared-services agreement is not in place, according to a county news release from the Board of Supervisors. Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Judge rulings and the broader dispute
Heap’s latest motion lands in the middle of a broader legal tug-of-war over who actually controls the nuts and bolts of Maricopa County elections. In April a judge ruled that supervisors had illegally removed IT staff from the Recorder’s Office and ordered the staff returned, a decision that highlighted how control over IT and ballot-processing equipment has fueled Heap’s lawsuit, according to KJZZ.
Why this matters for the July primary
Early ballots are scheduled to start going out June 24, leaving little room for procedural drama. County officials warn that ongoing disputes over machines, staffing and drop-box authority could complicate how provisional and mail ballots are processed.
With the July 21 primary looming, both sides insist they are trying to protect voters, but courthouse filings suggest the fight is more likely to be settled by judges than at the supervisory dais, according to AZFamily.
Legal implications
Heap’s motion asks the judge not only to force the return of equipment but also to bar the board from advancing criminal investigations of recorder employees. The Board counters that it is seeking accountability for possible security lapses and that legal review is ongoing.
County releases emphasize that policies and statutory authorities will guide how election duties are divided while the legal process plays out, according to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
For now the case returns to Superior Court, where judges will decide whether emergency relief is warranted before early ballots are mailed. More filings and hearings are expected in the weeks ahead as both sides press for clarity on who controls the machines and the staff that run them.
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