Full Breakdown
Maricopa County Ballot Scanner Removal Sparks Investigation and Political Conflict
6/12/2026, 10:43:28 PM
Incident Overview
On March 12, 2024, surveillance video captured Maricopa County Recorder’s Office (MCRO) chief information officer Bryan Colby and an unidentified colleague entering the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) while the Tempe jurisdictional election results were being tallied. Using a rolling cart, they removed a pre-tabulation ballot scanner, loaded it onto a gray pickup truck lacking county markings, and exited the secure facility. The scanner was returned to MCTEC roughly one hour later after a brief stop at the Recorder’s Office building.
Timeline of Key Actions
- Mar 3: Colby messages Elections IT staffer Brian Stormer on Microsoft Teams asking about two pre-tabulation scanners.
- Mar 5: Stormer replies that both scanners were purchased by the Elections Department from Runbeck for Novus duplication.
- Mar 12, 1:30 p.m.: Colby and a second MCRO employee arrive in a gray truck, enter the pre-tabulation area, and are confronted by an Elections employee. Colby replies, “Rey knows about it.”
- 1:45 p.m.: The scanner is placed on the cart and moved toward the pickup truck.
- 1:50 p.m.: Colby enters the Early Voting cage, handling white documents identified as provisional ballot affidavit envelopes.
- ~2:00 p.m.: The pair arrive at the Recorder’s Office on West Jefferson, where the scanner remains for about seven minutes.
- 2:07 p.m.: The scanner is loaded back onto the truck and driven toward MCTEC.
- 2:30 p.m.: The scanner is back inside MCTEC; the count resumes.
Ownership Dispute and Documentation
The Elections Department supplied purchase orders showing the scanner was bought from Runbeck Election Services in January 2023 for $105,600. MCRO asserted the equipment belonged to the Recorder’s Office, citing internal records. A Human Resources (HR) investigation concluded the scanner was owned by the Elections Department and that Colby had been informed of this ownership via the March 5 Teams message. MCRO declined participation in the HR review, limiting the department’s ability to incorporate its perspective.
Data & Costs
- Original scanner purchase: $105,600 (Runbeck Election Services).
- Replacement scanner purchased in May 2024: $70,000, funded by county taxpayers.
- Two scanners of this model were previously acquired by MCRO, according to internal emails.
Official Statements & Responses
Recorder Justin Heap maintained that the scanner was funded by his office, that no actual ballots were removed, and that the envelopes were voided provisional ballots used for testing. He described the Board’s allegations as “lies” and “meritless.” Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee called the episode “baffling” and “outrageous.” Elections Director Scott Jarrett emailed MCRO chief of staff Sam Stone demanding the scanner’s immediate return and prohibiting future removal. Supervisor Debbie Lesko labeled the video “insane” and highlighted the unknown fate of the envelopes. Former Recorder Helen Purcell warned of a lost chain of custody.
Criticism & Opposition
Board members and former officials questioned the Recorder’s Office’s handling of election equipment, emphasizing the lack of documented authorization and the potential compromise of chain-of-custody. Helen Purcell noted, “You don’t know what has happened to that machine.” Lesko echoed concerns about the unsecured transport of the scanner and ballot envelopes. The HR report recommended that MCRO investigate Colby’s conduct and consider referral to law enforcement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have lost confidence in the Board’s Integrity, its willingness to follow the law, and its ability to engage in good-faith cooperation,” — Justin Heap, Maricopa County Recorder
- “You don't know what has happened to that machine. And I'm not saying that anything has, but you don't know that.” — Helen Purcell, former Maricopa County Recorder
- “This is just kind of insane,” — Debbie Lesko, Maricopa County Supervisor
- “baffling” and “outrageous.” — Kate Brophy McGee, Chair, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
- “This entire incident could and should have been handled with a phone call,” — Sam Stone, MCRO Chief of Staff
- “Meritless” — Justin Heap, Maricopa County Recorder
Impact and Next Steps
The incident prompted an internal HR investigation, a special prosecutor’s appointment, and the replacement of the scanner at a $70,000 cost. County officials have indicated that the scanner will undergo forensic review before future use. Early voting for the June 24 primary proceeds amid ongoing inquiries, and the special prosecutor’s findings may lead to criminal referrals.
