The County Board of Supervisors directed the county manager Wednesday to form a group to make recommendations regarding "structure, staff and technology" for the county’s election operations.
The board said it believes polling and ballot-counting issues that have plagued recent county elections can be avoided if changes are made to the election process.
The working group will analyze all responsibilities and processes of the Recorder’s Office to “review — whether that arrangement makes the most sense going forward.”
Maricopa is one of three counties in Arizona that delegates election responsibilities to the recorder.
"I look forward to a top-to-bottom review of the needs of the department," said current County Recorder Adrian Fontes in a statement.
The vote to create the working group came on the same day as Fontes submitted his budget to the board and requested $25 million for a ballot tabulation system.
The working group is expected to release its recommendations within 60 days of its first meeting.
