By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors met for an emergency meeting Tuesday to vote on a settlement regarding how to run upcoming elections.
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The Board of Supervisors and County Recorder Justin Heap have been in court-ordered mediation as the two entities worked to reach an agreement on how to run the general election.
After it was approved in Tuesday’s meeting, a settlement allows the recorder’s office to take control of early voting. The board of supervisors will control emergency and election day voting, as well as tabulation and canvassing.
The board said Heap approved the terms of the settlement before the emergency meeting.
“I am pleased that the board has reached a settlement with Recorder Heap to end the litigation once and for all,” Vice Chair Debbie Lesko said.
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said Tuesday’s meeting was called after the mediator made an “urgent request to finalize plans that affect the pending and ongoing 2026 primary election and the 2026 general election.” The public was not allowed to participate in the emergency meeting.
The dispute began last year when Heap sued the board, alleging it illegally took control of election tasks that fall under his authority.
Last week, the Arizona State Supreme Court sided with Heap, ordering the board to follow his 12-point plan for the upcoming primary election.
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After settling, Heap’s office looks to be abandoning that 12-point plan.
Supervisor Steve Gallardo highly criticized Heap’s partisanship, saying the recorder’s office “owns November.”
“I see a staff that has no clue on what they’re doing, which probably reaffirms why they didn’t want the 12-point plan,” Gallardo said. “They don’t know how to do it. They don’t want that responsibility.”
The board also said the settlement will give the recorder’s office over $20 million for the upcoming elections.
Arizona’s primary election starts next Tuesday, July 21. Arizona’s Family has highlighted eight key races to watch.
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