June 10, 2026
Phoenix, AZ – This week, it was revealed that a special prosecutor is investigating a potential break in the chain of custody for a pre-tabulation scanner from the Maricopa County Election and Tabulation Center. This latest investigation is the most recent escalation in the legal battle between the Board of Supervisors and Recorder Justin Heap, with less than a month until early voting is set to begin in the 2026 primaries. In response, All Voting is Local Action Arizona State Director Alex Gulotta issued the following statement:
“In America, we believe voters should choose their leaders, and every vote must count. In Maricopa County, the man sworn to protect that principle must stop any actions that do not support that principle. Instead, Recorder Justin Heap is an election denier who has questioned the legitimacy of past Arizona elections and is now facing an investigation that raises serious concerns that his position in election administration could jeopardize the rights and freedoms of Arizona voters. Our votes are not theirs to take. Our elections are not theirs to control.
Throughout his short tenure, Recorder Heap has prioritized petty politics and power struggles over administering free and democratic elections in Maricopa County, creating chaos and confusion for election administrators and voters in the process. We must send a message to anyone who threatens voters’ ability to cast their ballot and have that vote count: Hands off our vote!
With only weeks until the upcoming primaries are set to begin, the stakes are too high to ignore. We are calling on the Board of Supervisors to remove him, or he must resign and leave office immediately.”
Background
Recorder Heap, who was named in All Voting is Local’s “America’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Election Deniers” watchlist, has been engaged in a legal battle since June of 2025 with the Maricopa Board of Supervisors to gain more control over the county’s elections. The dispute remains unresolved, despite midterm primary elections approaching in July. It has also been reported that Heap sent text messages directly to county supervisors via a personal phone in an effort to gain more control over the county’s elections prior to the lawsuit.