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Cochise County appoints Melissa Avant as elections director amid questions about machines and turnover
Summary
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 to appoint Melissa Avant as elections director effective May 27, 2025, after public comment and extended questioning about past turnover in the elections office, voting-machine records and legal conflicts with the state.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 Tuesday to appoint Melissa Avant as the county's elections director, with the appointment effective May 27, 2025. The nomination moved after staff recommended Avant following a public recruitment and interview process.
The discussion followed multiple public speakers who raised concerns about the county's recent turnover in the elections office and outstanding records requests related to voting machines. Allison Morris, a Portal registered voter, told the board the county has had high turnover since early 2023 and urged supervisors to ensure the new director has legal and technical support for upcoming elections. Public commenter Paul Rice urged the board to verify what software or…
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