Board of Supervisors Informal Meeting April 6, 2026

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors held an informal meeting on April 6, 2026, primarily focused on the Elections Department's ELE 1 budget for the 2026 election cycle. Presenters detailed the budget request of approximately $19.7 million, an increase from $17.2 million in 2024, driven by factors such as increased voter participation, minimum wage hikes for temporary election workers, additional early voting locations, and higher costs for ballot printing and logistics. A significant portion of the budget covers staffing, including 3,000 to 4,000 temporary workers and courier services. The meeting also addressed the transfer of early voting responsibilities and associated costs, about $3.4 million, from the Elections Department to the Recorder's Office, which presented its own budget request of roughly $20.3 million for the election cycle. Discussions included the methodology for selecting voting locations, challenges in securing sites, and efforts to ensure equitable voter access across districts. Contingency funds were highlighted as essential for unforeseen expenses such as additional ballot pages. The board approved moving into executive session at the meeting's conclusion.