Cochise County gives recorder control over elections; concerns raised about how power will get used
Cochise County officials on Tuesday placed all elections duties under one office, breaking from the existing practice of a division of responsibilities, and fueling concerns the county might tinker with how the 2024 presidential and state elections are run.
On a 2-1 vote, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors followed through on plans to assign elections director responsibilities to county Recorder David Stevens, at least through 2024.
Tuesday's move was approved by Republican supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd. Chairwoman Ann English, a Democrat, opposed the shift.
The new policy gives Stevens control of all elections operations, including duties that formerly belonged to the elections director, specifically managing Election Day voting and vote counting. Stevens would have to report to the board on those operations, while retaining autonomy, as the elected recorder, for voter registration and early voting.
Crosby and Judd argued the combined office would promote "economy, efficiency, and public confidence" in elections. That was applauded by some members of the public at Tuesday's hearing, while other speakers said the move fuels their suspicions that Stevens, with the board's blessing, could test out controversial practices such as abandoning the use of electronic machines and instead hand count all ballots.
Stevens has shown a willingness to try out practices that other elections officials have criticized, and was poised to carry out a hand count of the county's 2022 ballots before a court blocked it.
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Stevens did not return a phone call for comment Tuesday. But in an interview in February, he said his first duties would be to prepare for a May election on a county tax and to re-staff the office, which had only one employee left.
Elections Director Lisa Marra resigned her post earlier this year, citing harassment over her refusal to turn over ballots for a hand count. Marra maintained state law did not allow her to release the ballots, and the county board sued her. Ultimately, a court ruled the hand count was illegal.
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Stevens said he also plans to hire someone to run elections under his direction. Last month, he shot down rumors that he would give the job to his friend, former Republican secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem, who is an avowed election denier.
Most of the state's 15 counties separate elections duties between an elected county recorder and an appointed elections director. That was the model Cochise followed until Tuesday's vote. In Yuma County, the elections director reports to both the recorder and a county commitee.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl. Reporter Ray Stern contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Supervisors in Cochise County consolidate elections under recorder
