“This is a move to turn the clock back to a narrower version of who belongs in America”
Our latest, via @allymarkovich.bsky.social
azcir.org/news/2026/03...
04.03.2026 21:48
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“This is a move to turn the clock back to a narrower version of who belongs in America”
Our latest, via @allymarkovich.bsky.social
azcir.org/news/2026/03...
Our reporter @nataliaecm.bsky.social is in Eastland County, TX, where Republicans insisted on hand-counting their primary ballots—and, as a result, are *still counting.* www.votebeat.org/texas/2026/0...
Plus, one official facing election interference charges may not see trial until after the midterms.
That could jeopardize his prosecution. AG Kris Mayes is up for reelection, and her most prominent GOP opponent — Warren Petersen — says he'd drop the case if he won the seat. 👇
Plus, one official facing election interference charges may not see trial until after the midterms.
That could jeopardize his prosecution. AG Kris Mayes is up for reelection, and her most prominent GOP opponent — Warren Petersen — says he'd drop the case if he won the seat.
NEW: It's been four years since Cochise County tried to defy election laws. Now, it may be gearing up to do so again.
Its leaders sent a letter to DNI Tulsi Gabbard last week asking her to investigate disputed claims on voting machine testing. Read: www.votebeat.org/arizona/2026...
A feed to follow if you're keeping tabs on today's primaries in Texas!
NEW: Navajo County is seeking a new recorder after its existing one, Republican Tim Jordan, resigned amid criminal charges.
Who will county leaders choose? And, will they hold the same views as Jordan, who pushed false claims of rampant voter fraud? Read: www.votebeat.org/arizona/2026...
Fontes: “It concerns me that, despite media inquiries, no further information has been provided about the process your office used to verify this information.”
UPDATE: Secretary of State Adrian Fontes sent Recorder Justin Heap a letter yesterday about this matter.
He says Heap had made “a very serious accusation” and asks for information on the suspected noncitizens, if their citizenship status was independently verified by MCRO, etc.
NEW: Tom Crosby's trial date is moving again after a special agent assigned to his prosecution ended up under internal investigation for falsifying timecards and an official document unrelated to the case, per Terri Jo Neff at The Herald / Review. Read: www.myheraldreview.com/news/cochise...
Under state law, the recorder must send those notices and give voters time to respond with proof of citizenship before canceling their registrations.
I asked MCRO for comment on all this yesterday afternoon, and have not yet received a response.
UPDATE: Records suggest that Recorder Justin Heap has not sent out notices to voters flagged as noncitizens by an unreliable federal system.
I requested copies of any such notices. In response, MCRO said no such records existed.
Can Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap's list of noncitizen voters be trusted? Also: the potential impact of the breakup between Heap & County Board on display last week w @sashahupka.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEkJ...
UPDATE: The Recorder's Office has yet to refer this matter to MCAO or the AG's Office.
MCRO said in a statement late last week that it would refer suspected noncitizen voters to those agencies for review. But both prosecutorial offices tell me that they haven't gotten anything.
Experts have long warned that the system the office used — called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE — is unreliable
story via @sashahupka.bsky.social/@votebeat.org
NEW: Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap claimed last week that his office had identified 137 noncitizens on the county’s voter rolls — but that number may be inflated, as the database he used to arrive at it has a history of inaccuracy.
Read my latest: www.votebeat.org/arizona/2026...
OF NOTE: In Arizona, lawmakers are considering a proposal that would require counties to allow ICE agents at polling places.
That idea looks to run afoul of federal law, and potentially state voter intimidation statutes. From @azmirror.com: azmirror.com/briefs/ice-a...
NEW: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pushed the SAVE America Act at an event today in Phoenix, but speculation swirled amid a dearth of information ahead of her visit, highlighting election officials’ fears. Read: www.votebeat.org/arizona/2026...
On location for Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference, which is running behind.
Signs around the room tout the SAVE America Act, voter ID and proof of citizenship policies.
In Arizona, voters already have to show ID at the polls to vote in person, and prove citizenship to vote a full ballot.
Meanwhile, at a court hearing, Judge Scott Blaney spoke privately with counsel for both sides about his recent TRO.
When he came out, he said he'd hoped to avoid an evidentiary hearing on the matter — but ended up setting one for next week. bsky.app/profile/sash...
Lesko was being very vocal on this item.
"I think its very important for the sake of the voters and for the smooth operation of the 2026 election that we figure this out," she said.
Supervisors said MCRO refuses to answer their questions. They referenced a letter from Chair Kate Brophy McGee to Heap on Jan. 22, and said he never responded.
"It's begging the question, what does Recorder Heap have to hide," Supervisor Debbie Lesko said.
See the letter. ⬇️
UPDATE: The ongoing legal battle between Maricopa County election officials continues to evolve.
The BOS voted unanimously this morning to order Recorder Justin Heap to compile a report on a variety of election-related topics.
Chair Kate Brophy McGee on this: "The board respects the court. At the same time, as elected officials, we must be empowered to do our job. We must have accurate information to appropriate and budget for the upcoming elections, and this is what we seek in taking this action."
The BOS has expressed urgency regarding the subpoenas and TRO — see an excerpt from its response to the court below. This fight comes amid a budget process and planning for upcoming midterms.
There likely will continue to be some updates here, so stay tuned.
The board's subpoenas of MCRO employees were temporarily blocked by a judge. This looks to be an attempt to circumvent that, however, this item also lists a different law authorizing this action.
They cited ARS 11-218 in the subpoenas, and cite ARS 11-253 here.
UPDATE: The Maricopa County BOS is considering ordering Recorder Justin Heap to compile a report on topics related to the ongoing legal battle between county election officials.
They are set to vote on it in a meeting tomorrow, at the same time as a court hearing on this TRO. 🧵
UPDATE: Hobbs signed this today, moving the 2026 primary from Aug. 4 to July 21. See here: azgovernor.gov/office-arizo...
The state primary date will permanently shift to the second-to-last Tuesday of July. Some changes to the curing window in there, too. Read my initial story here. ⬇️
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee says the board must “get to the bottom” of the statements made by Heap and his staff.
Read her full response statement here. ⬇️
I've got big shoes to fill, but very excited to be here. Thanks for following along!