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Elections director highlights award, turnout and preparations for 2026 changes
Summary
The elections office reported on 2024 turnout, its national award for a de‑escalation training program for poll workers, plans to replace aging electronic poll books, and the need to track state/federal legislative changes that could affect administration and timing of elections.
Coconino County elections staff briefed the Board of Supervisors May 13 on the office’s 2024 work and preparations for FY26 operations, including equipment replacement and legal tracking.
Staff announced the office won the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Claire McCaskill award for excellence in election administration for a program developed in 2024 that trained poll workers in de‑escalation and situational awareness in cooperation with the sheriff’s office. The department outlined outreach efforts and voter participation statistics from the 2024 elections, noting a strong turnout pattern that generally mirrored statewide participation.
The elections director explained a near‑term operational need: the county’s electronic poll books (tablet devices used to check in voters) are reaching end‑of‑life as manufacturers stop supporting current operating systems. Staff requested $150,000 to replace the devices; they said district‑specific reserve funds previously set aside for jurisdictional elections can cover the purchase.
Elections staff also told the board they are tracking state and federal legislative proposals that could change election timing, early voting rules or administrative requirements, and said some court orders and last‑minute legal changes can force rapid operational pivots. The office has started updating procedures to be ready for statutory or rule changes that may be adopted prior to the 2026 cycle.
Board members praised the staff’s outreach and the award and asked staff to continue work on poll‑book replacement and voter‑access improvements. Staff said they will return with procurement steps and a device‑replacement schedule tied to the FY26 budget process.
