February 07, 2025

Recorder’s One-Month Update

This week marks the end of my first month in office and I want to give an update on the efforts so far underway, and those planned in the coming weeks. 

Via strict compliance with Arizona statutes, we have removed more inactive voters from the voter registration rolls than any previous Recorder had done in a single year. Additionally, we are removing all personal and Party affiliation data from the signature verification process to ensure that the people checking the signatures on ballot envelopes are not influenced in any way by the presence of Party affiliation data. This change also allows observers to view the signature verification screens directly throughout the process. 

Additionally, we are in the process of impending upgrades to improve the UOCAVA process for military personnel on deployment. Anticipated changes to the handling and processing of these ballots will improve security and make accessing their ballots easier for service members. 

Lastly, after taking office, it quickly became clear to me that the prior Recorder’s lack of organizational leadership and over-focus on external political communications were issues that needed to be addressed. In response, I have eliminated the salaries and positions of six external communications officers to free up resources for needed improvements to the development and management of our key databases and electronic systems, including the voter registration database, ERO, which does not yet have the basic functionality we need to effectively clean and maintain clean voter rolls. ERO also lacks features needed to properly monitor employee performance and regulatory compliance. Many of these functions were anticipated when the system was built but have never been developed. Likewise, there are significant problems with some of our other technologies, such as the remote kiosk systems for title and deed recording. In the coming weeks and months, I will be moving aggressively to make the needed improvements in these areas as well. 

Unfortunately, not everything is roses, and every day my team and I are identifying additional areas of the Recorder’s Office operations that require improvement. As many of you know, the former Recorder also signed an agreement on his way out the door that limits the powers of the Recorder’s Office and cedes many functions that are critical to the successful operation of clean, accurate elections to the county Board of Supervisors. I am currently working with the members of the Board of Supervisors to replace this agreement with one that serves the people and the mission they gave me to ensure future elections in Maricopa County are fully secure, efficiently operated and, above all, accurate. I am hopeful that we will have a new agreement in the near future that helps us all achieve those aims. 

There is a lot of work to be done, but that work is well begun, and I want to express my particular thanks to all the professional staff here in the office who have made it clear they want to be part of making this office, and Maricopa County elections, Great Again.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to the team of dedicated election professionals who have joined the office: April Riggins who came over with me from the legislature as my executive assistant; Jeff Caldwell, my Special Projects Director who many of you know from the campaign; Sam Stone, my Chief of Staff who was the former Chief of Staff for Sal DiCiccio, and the new Chief Deputy Recorder Jeff Mason who brings a wealth of knowledge in both election administration and organizational management.

Justin Heap
Maricopa County Recorder