2026 General Election Administration & Early Voting Plan
Summary
Supervisors praised the joint efforts of the Elections Department and Recorder's Office following recent municipal elections in Tempe.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 34
- Last 30 days
- 24
Rising — discussed at 3 meetings since Aug 19, 2026, up from 2 in the two months before.
Impact analysis
Covered under existing election operational budgets.
Maricopa County voters and municipal entities.
Voters experiencing confusion or potential access barriers due to administrative delays.
Mentions & discussions (14)
Voting rights groups mobilize volunteers amid fears of federal interference and voter intimidation
As President Donald Trump refuses to rule out taking extreme action in the midterm elections, voting rights advocates and civil rights leaders are bolstering their voter protection efforts in anticipation of possible federal interference. The focus b...
More than 3,000 voters in Maricopa County got this year’s ballot early
The Recorder’s Office determined the early ballots remain valid and “do not need to be voided or reissued,” the office said.
Formal — September 30, 2026
County Recorder Justin Heap presented the operational plan for the upcoming election, covering mail-in ballots, voter registration deadlines, and in-person voting sites. Board members questioned the recorder regarding voter list maintenance, bipartisan signature verification shifts, and equipment transitions.
Clean Elections fraud fight goes to court as Green Party candidates seek to block repayment
The attorney for two Green Party candidates accused of fraudulently obtaining public campaign funding and lawyers for the commission that regulates that funding sparred in Maricopa County Superior Court Thursday over whether the commission has the po...
Formal — September 2, 2026
Elections officials announced that 254 Election Day vote centers will be open for the general election, supported by a newly streamlined single-page ballot that will significantly speed up voting lines.
Formal — August 19, 2026
Residents and advocacy groups testified during public comment urging the board to demand greater transparency from the County Recorder regarding election administration, ballot drop boxes, and signature verification.
Special — August 3, 2026
The board and election staff discussed logistical plans for the upcoming general election, focusing on managing two-page ballots, expanding voting booths, and maintaining double shifts to ensure fast results.
Map: Find your nearest Maricopa County ballot drop box location
Map: Find your nearest Maricopa County ballot drop box location Phoenix New Times
Formal — June 24, 2026
The county adopted its election plans for 2026, featuring over 250 vote centers and new procedures allowing voters to drop off mail-in ballots at voting locations for immediate tabulation, aiming to speed up results and reduce lines.
Formal — May 20, 2026
The board approved voting centers, emergency vote centers, and drop-off boxes for the upcoming primary election, pushing back against ongoing disputes and legal threats from County Recorder Justin Heap.
Formal — April 8, 2026
Numerous citizens and public speakers criticized the board and County Recorder Justin Heap over delays in finalizing primary polling location maps and shared service agreements.
Informal — April 6, 2026
Supervisors debated the geographic distribution of 28-day early voting sites, with concerns raised about whether certain regions like the West Valley have adequate access compared to the East Valley. Officials also discussed the logistical hurdles of securing facilities willing to host voting locations.
Formal — March 11, 2026
Supervisors praised the joint efforts of the Elections Department and Recorder's Office following recent municipal elections in Tempe.
Special — February 18, 2026
The county and the recorder's office have been locked in disputes over how to divide shared IT systems and manage in-person early voting for upcoming elections, leading to litigation and board policy actions.
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