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UpdateArizonaSunday, November 1, 2026

Maricopa County supervisor who opposed 2020 certification now defends system

Reporting by
The Arizona Republic
“Lesko wouldn't certify 2020 election. Now she defends system | Exclusive”, Sunday, November 1, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Lesko is now defending the election system she oversees. She has become a target of the same election integrity activists she once aligned with.1

Lesko is in a public dispute with county recorder Justin Heap, whom she previously supported. She said she is bracing for an onslaught of criticism as the Nov. 3 midterm election approaches.1

What it means in Arizona

Who certifies the count in Maricopa County

The county board of supervisors receives the results from the county recorder, canvasses them and sends them to the Secretary of State.2 County boards of supervisors must canvass the returns by the third Thursday after the election, November 19, 2026.3

Key dates in Arizona

Election Day in -1 days
  1. Mon, Oct 5 · passed
    Registration deadline
  2. Wed, Oct 7 · passed
    Early voting begins
  3. Fri, Oct 23 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  4. Fri, Oct 30 · passed
    Early voting ends
  5. Tue, Nov 3 · passed
    Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive
  6. Mon, Nov 23 · 19 days
    State certification

Every date in Arizona, and who certifies the election

More on this story
Arizona · Nov 4
Maricopa County officials addressed federal monitors before Election Day
Reporting by AZ Family
Arizona · Nov 1
Maricopa County asked Justice Department to screen election monitors
Reporting by KJZZ Politics
The answers behind this
Who runs elections, and who can't interfereVoting in Arizona, 2026Who certifies the election in Arizona, and by when?Have county officials refused to certify before?

Explore this issue

OverviewUpdates In depthFlorida counties follow state framework for counting and verifying votes In depthMore than 8 million Ohioans registered to vote in 2026 midterm In depthJudge declined to block Justice Department poll monitors on Election Day In depthNinth Circuit vacates ruling that allowed DOJ to threaten election officials In depthDOJ set up hotlines for election interference reports In depthFlorida moved polling places after flooding ahead of Election Day In depthNearly 20,000 mail ballots not returned in central Ohio by deadline In depthNorth Carolina voters decided on three constitutional amendments In depthNorth Carolina extended voting at 5 precincts after stoppages In depthMaricopa County officials addressed federal monitors before Election Day In depthRichmond Office of Elections responded to voting threats in Virginia In depthDHS Secretary said administration would collect voting logs to find noncitizens

Sources

  1. The Arizona Republic, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxOSTBuN0VDQkYzU3RZQ2NtUTIteUxvT0R4NkJjVmVHVEJQTHZscmZyZDdxV2dlS0RKRFJvRjVNTDNrb0tDMXZDWG1sUWlKMDNybUJRNTdBby1samhsTGhlMWVOZExIRUpocHY3eFdYeEdMYndlN1g3bzVCY1FoMzhWdnYyRVU3UzlzY2dLdUxNNG5ZbTNvWGI3aDJTR2lhRDZGUDBPQ0tWYTUzLUx4UHpzbVdiV2NGQ0hrWEVURnFmaHA4aUI3Q25qcS05MUp3SXNVWEJtVDVhbVozZw?oc=5 · Sunday, November 1, 2026
  2. Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
  3. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

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