Board canvasses Nov. 4 returns after staff find two sealed transport bins; recorder and elections staff outline fixes

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors canvassed and certified the Nov. 4 jurisdictional election returns on Nov. 19 after a detailed briefing from elections staff and the county recorder about post‑election procedures and a late discovery of sealed ballots in two blue transport bins.

Scott Shearer, Maricopa County Elections Director, and Recorder Justin Heap explained the canvass role under state statute and the split responsibilities: the county administers ballots and voting locations under intergovernmental agreements while the recorder conducts signature verification and mail handling. The board heard public comment before the presentation raising concerns about undeliverable ballots, replacement ballot locations and the two blue transport bins that were found at the tabulation warehouse after election night.

Shearer gave turnout and logistics figures: 704,548 total ballots cast (about 26% turnout of 2.6 million registered voters), 43 replacement ballot sites, five drop‑box‑only locations and about 146,859 drop‑box returns. He…