Maricopa County’s New Leadership Promises a Fresh Take on Election Audits

Maricopa County’s newly elected supervisors have announced plans to initiate an independent audit of the county’s election system. This decision was made during their first meeting on Monday, marking a significant shift in the board’s approach to election administration.

Three new Republican supervisors were sworn in, with Thomas Galvin elected as chairman. Galvin emphasized that the upcoming audit would be comprehensive yet avoid the controversies that surrounded previous election reviews. He indicated that a reputable firm would be hired to assess and improve election procedures, moving away from the partisan evaluations seen in the past.

The new leadership’s stance reflects their campaign promises focused on election integrity. Mark Stewart, one of the newly elected supervisors, highlighted the necessity for reforming the county’s electoral system. Their election comes after the departure of previous officials who were known for firmly defending county election practices.

In a notable election upset, Justin Heap defeated the incumbent Recorder, Stephen Richer, criticizing the county’s elections as a “laughingstock.” However, Heap’s role in the upcoming audit remains uncertain as discussions regarding his involvement have yet to occur.

Galvin clarified that the audit will not revisit prior election results or ballots. Instead, it will strictly examine operational processes, aiming for improvements. The county has previously conducted extensive reviews of its electoral system, including independent audits following the contentious 2020 elections that ultimately confirmed Joe Biden’s victory.

The hefty financial cost of these past audits raises questions about the necessity of another one, though Galvin argues that it is prudent to avoid complacency in election oversight. In contrast, Supervisor Steve Gallardo, the sole Democrat on the board, expressed skepticism about the audit’s goals, emphasizing that elections in Arizona have already been deemed secure through multiple independent audits.

Despite this, Gallardo acknowledged that an audit aimed at enhancing processes could be beneficial. Galvin has distanced the new audit from the infamous Cyber Ninjas review, which was criticized for its lack of organization and accuracy. He assured that this audit will employ a competent firm, free from the controversies associated with previous measures.

Supervisor Debbie Lesko is actively seeking recommendations from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for firms suited to conduct the audit. Potential candidates include Pro V&V and SLI Compliance, both accredited to certify U.S. voting systems. Lesko expressed her goal for a comprehensive evaluation of the county’s election systems, encompassing security protocols and ballot tracking.

Galvin reiterated his belief in the integrity of past elections while advocating for continual improvements. The board aims to reassure the public about the validity of the electoral process while also seeking ways to enhance transparency and efficiency moving forward.

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