Maricopa County officials ask supervisors for higher ELE‑1 election budget as vote centers and poll‑worker costs rise

Maricopa County elections officials asked the Board of Supervisors on April 6 to approve increased ELE‑1 sinking‑fund budgets for the 2026 primary and general elections, citing a forecast of roughly 65% turnout in the general and an estimated 1.7 million ballots. Elections Director Scott Jarrett said the forecast would be the county’s highest turnout since 1970 and that the department is projecting record ballot volumes for the general election.

Jarrett said the Elections Department’s ELE‑1 request is roughly $19.7 million this cycle, driven largely by staffing (temporary poll workers and central‑count staff), ballot printing and logistics. "About 50.3% of the total budget" is for staffing, he said, and noted election‑cycle costs previously split between the Elections Department and the Recorder’s Office are being realigned following a recent board resolution.

Why it matters: Supervisors were pushed for specific line items and comparatives to prior elections because the combined FY‑27 requests represent a multi‑million‑dollar increase over 2024 actuals. County budget staff said the total ELE‑1 increase across both offices is about $12.7 million versus 2024 actuals when accounting for pre‑ and post‑resolution allocations, and offered to provide a detailed accounting of contingency draws and reserve balances.

What officials presented: Jarrett listed several cost drivers: a required publicity pamphlet tied to a likely…