Meeting: Special Meeting of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
Purpose: Canvass of Goldfield Ranch Fire District Election Returns
Duration: Approximately 13 minutes
Format: Virtual (all members attended remotely)
What Happened
The Board met to formally certify results from the May 19, 2026 special district election in Goldfield Ranch. This was a single-item agenda meeting—standard procedure for election canvassing.
The Vote
The Board unanimously approved the election canvass (5-0):
| Supervisor | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Stewart | 1 | Aye |
| Thomas Galvin | 2 | Aye |
| Kate Brophy McGee | 3 | Aye |
| Debbie Lesko | 4 | Aye |
| Steve Gallardo | 5 | Aye |
Motion: Debbie Lesko (Vice Chair)
Second: Thomas Galvin
Election Results
Goldfield Ranch Fire District Special Election
- Registered voters: 191
- Ballots cast: 95
- Turnout: 49.7%
- Result: Fire district measure PASSED
Discussion of Note
During the meeting, Supervisor Steve Gallardo raised questions about voters who had been deemed “unqualified” by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office. Specifically, he asked:
- Whether voters deemed ineligible might actually have been eligible to vote
- Whether these voters had opportunities to “cure” their ballots
- How the determination of “unqualified” status was made
Elections Director Scott Jarrett responded that these were voters Recorder Justin Heap’s office had determined ineligible.
Context: These questions came just four days after Recorder Heap filed a contempt motion against the Board of Supervisors (May 28, 2026), alleging the Board has refused to comply with a court order returning election authority to the Recorder’s Office. Gallardo’s questions appeared to reference the ongoing dispute between the Board and Recorder over election administration responsibilities.
Observation
The meeting followed standard canvass procedures and passed without controversy. However, Gallardo’s questions—unusual for a routine canvass—suggest Board members are closely scrutinizing Recorder’s Office decisions amid active litigation.
The Board certified the election results while that litigation remains pending.
Documents Reviewed
The Board considered the following election documentation before voting:
- Goldfield Ranch Final Summary Report
- Goldfield Ranch Final Statement of Votes
- Jurisdictional Final SOV and Canvass Report
- EV (Early Voting) Rejects Summary
- Provisional Ballot Totals
- All-Mail Undeliverable Report
Source
This report is based on:
- Official meeting agenda and summary from Maricopa County
- Video transcript of the June 1, 2026 special meeting
- Supporting election documents
