Phoenix, AZ— Democracy Defense Foundation Arizona board members Governor Jan Brewer, Congressman Matt Salmon, former State Rep. Daniel Hernandez and Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines issued the following statement regarding the early ballot error that occurred in Maricopa County:
“As early voting begins across Arizona, the Democracy Defense Foundation (DDF) remains committed to ensuring every eligible voter has full confidence in the fairness, security, and accuracy of our elections.
“Running elections in a county as large as Maricopa, with over four million residents, requires immense logistical effort. When minor administrative errors occur, such as the recent issue involving approximately 3,000 early ballots, the key to maintaining public trust is quick accountability and complete transparency. Local election officials, including Recorder Justin Heap and county election administrators, identified the issue promptly, implemented corrective measures, and notified affected voters.
“In moments like this, it is essential to focus on facts and solutions rather than political rhetoric. Arizona’s election process is designed with strong, built-in safeguards, including individual barcode tracking, rigorous signature verification, and secure ballot processing. Because of these protections, this isolated mailing error will have zero impact on the accuracy or security of the final vote count.
“We encourage all Maricopa County voters to cast their ballots with confidence, rely on official county election channels for accurate updates, and support the dedicated election workers who safeguard our democracy.”
Published: Oct 8, 2026
