Cochise County supervisors unanimously certify results of Sept. 23 special CD-7 election

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to certify the election returns submitted by the Cochise County Elections Department as the official canvas for the special general election in Arizona's 7th Congressional District held Sept. 23, 2025.

The certification motion, moved and seconded during the board's regular meeting, passed “3 to 0.” Supervisor Gomez moved to certify the results; Supervisor Antinori seconded. The board chair called for the vote and all supervisors responded “aye.” The board directed staff to transmit the certified canvas to “Mister Fontes.”

The certification followed public comment from Tara Clayton, who identified herself as the Cochise County organizer for "Bridal Arizona Action" and urged the board to complete the administrative duty required under state election law. "Under ARS 16 6 42, the County Board of Supervisors must meet, canvass, and certify the election returns once they have been properly submitted," Clayton said. She also noted the election's reported outcome, saying, "Congresswoman elect Adelita Grijalva earned the confidence of 63.1% of voters, a commanding majority. Refusing to delay your certification would not change that outcome."

Supervisor Crosby said he would vote to certify and raised a separate procedural concern about voting-system test-laboratory accreditation. Citing an earlier presentation by Paul Rice, Crosby said the issue is "biennial reaccreditation of voting system test labs," and that a change to the VSTL manual removed a two-year effective-date requirement, effectively making accreditation indefinite unless revoked. "The issue is not hand counting or not hand counting. The issue is biennial reaccreditation of voting system test labs," Crosby said, adding he planned to vote in favor of certification while flagging the accreditation matter for information.

Supervisor Gomez praised election staff for their work on the special election. "I wanna give kudos to Melissa Vant for doing a great election. I know it was her first one, and she had Marty to help her out, and it was great," Gomez said, and added that problems she saw in 2024 would have led her to withhold certification then.

The board's formal action was limited to certifying the canvas for CD-7; no additional policy changes were adopted. The clerk was instructed to transmit the certified results to the official named by the board. The supervisors noted their next regular meeting is Oct. 21 unless an earlier session is scheduled.