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Tucson City Council certifies primary canvas, orders automatic recount in Ward 3
Summary
At its Aug. 12 virtual meeting, the Tucson City Council adopted Resolution No. 23965 to accept the official canvas of the Aug. 5 primary election and directed the city clerk, with the city attorney's office, to petition Pima County Superior Court to initiate an automatic recount in the Ward 3 Democratic primary under Arizona law.
Tucson City Council voted to accept and certify the official canvas of the Aug. 5, 2025, primary election and to seek a court-ordered recount in the Ward 3 Democratic race after finding the margin between the top two candidates met the statutory threshold for an automatic recount.
Mr. Rankin, speaking for the city attorney's office, said the revisions to Resolution No. 23965 combine the formal acceptance of the canvas with the statutory certification that triggers a recount. "Under ARS section sixteen-661a, an automatic recount must be performed," he said, and the resolution directs the City Clerk, with assistance from the City Attorney's Office, to file a petition in Pima County Superior Court to obtain a signed order initiating the recount and setting a hearing.
The council recorded a roll-call vote after an unidentified member moved to approve the resolution. Councilmember Dahl recused from the vote on the recount certification; the remaining members voted in favor. The clerks' roll-call recorded Mr. Cunningham as "Aye," Missus Lee "Aye," Mr. Perez "Aye," McSulich "Aye," Vice Mayor Santa Cruz "Aye," and Mayor Romero "Aye." The clerk announced the resolution passed 6-0.
City staff said the official canvas and its tabulations are attached to the resolution as Exhibit A and that the recount filing will cite the vote margin and the applicable Arizona election statute. Mr. Rankin told the council the city intends to file the petition with the Pima County Superior Court within 24 hours to obtain the court order that will initiate the recount and schedule any hearing to determine final results.
Council members did not expand on the underlying Ward 3 vote totals at the meeting beyond the statutory finding that the margin met the recount threshold. The measure is procedural: it accepts the canvas, certifies the narrow margin that triggers an automatic recount under state law, and requests a court process to carry out the recount.
The council adjourned. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at or after 5:30 p.m.
