Board appoints poll workers, adds part‑time elections assistant to bolster capacity

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 25 approved the appointment of poll workers and early board members for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election and authorized the elections director to make additions or substitutions as needed to staff vote centers.

Later in the agenda, Elections Director Yvonne Avant asked the board to approve a part‑time elections assistant as part of a broader restructuring to create sustainable staffing across critical functions, including ballot processing, early board activities and tabulation. Avant said the department currently operates with three authorized positions and that vacancies can leave the office stretched; she told the board there is no immediate fiscal impact because the position will be funded within the department's existing budget. The board approved the position 3–0.

Public commenters praised election staff and urged them to adhere strictly to election law and state guidance; one caller emphasized using resources from the Arizona Secretary of State's office and the Attorney General to resolve any legal questions.

Why it matters: County elections officials said extra staffing will help meet statutory deadlines, cross‑train team members for continuity and reduce operational risk during the election cycle.

What happens next: The Elections Department will recruit for the part‑time assistant and continue preparing vote centers and early board staffing for the November election; the board authorized the elections director to make staffing substitutions as necessary.