Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly has once again been forced to explain an error made by her staff as voters head to the polls.
According to the Recorder’s Office, “On Thursday, July 17th, the Pima County Recorder’s Office sent a data file to the City of Tucson that contained updates to voter records for the August 5, 2025, City of Tucson Primary Election. That file contained incorrect party ballot assignments for 1,294 voters in City of Tucson Wards 3, 5, and 6. This resulted in 358 voters receiving the wrong ballot. 936 voters received the correct ballot, despite the error.”
The Recorder’s Office was not aware of the problem until Friday, July 25th, when voters called to complain that they had received the wrong ballot.
The Recorder’s Office claims: “The error was a result of a need for Recorder’s Office staff to override a mechanism in the data system that prevents party changes during an active election. The override was necessary because of the overlap of three elections: the Congressional District 7 Special Primary, the City of Tucson Primary and the City of South Tucson Special Recall. Many of the records in the supplemental file represented changes that voters made to their records but had to be withheld until the official closure of the CD7 Special Primary Election.”
Representatives Call For Investigation Into Pima County Recorder Handling Of 2024 General Election
Voters impacted by this error are still eligible to get a ballot at any Ballot Replacement Site now through Election Day and voters are encouraged to check the Pima County Recorder’s Voter Dashboard to confirm their voter registration information, according to the Recorder’s Office.
The Recorder’s Office says that voters who have already submitted a ballot and who vote at a replacement site may request a provisional ballot.
The Secretary of State’s Office and local officials have been made aware of the situation.
Critics say Cázares-Kelly is “clearly in over her head and unable to handle the job.”
In December 2024, two Arizona state lawmakers called for an investigation into Cazares-Kelly’s handling of the 2024 General Election.
The lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Kris Mayes requesting an immediate investigation following reports of what they say are “significant and highly concerning issues” involving the Pima County Recorder’s actions leading up to and during the 2024 General Election.
The lawmakers cited several issues in their letter, including:
- Shutting Down of Early Ballot Request Portal: The Pima County Recorder’s Office disabled its online ballot request system six days before the legal deadline, affecting nearly 4,000 voters. The decision has raised concerns about compliance with Arizona election laws and potential voter disenfranchisement.
- Inmate Voter Registration Program: Allegations of inadequate safeguards in the Recorder’s voter registration program for inmates have prompted questions about whether ineligible individuals may have been allowed to vote. Previous inquiries into this matter, including a letter sent by Representatives Rachel Jones and Cory McGarr on June 5, 2024, went unanswered.
- Handling of Undeliverable and Returned Ballots: Concerns about how undeliverable ballots were processed, stored, and tracked have also been raised. A follow-up letter sent by Representatives Jones and McGarr on October 24, 2024, to clarify compliance with Arizona law likewise received no response.
Currently, the City of Tucson is mailing an official letter to impacted voters in this cycle.
The Pima County Recorder’s Office says it “will be contacting the 358 impacted voters, using phone numbers and email addresses listed in their voting records. Only voters who received an incorrect ballot will be contacted by the Recorder’s Office. Voters who were registered as OTH are voters who would have not otherwise automatically received a ballot unless they had requested a partisan ballot. Voters who received a ballot they were not expecting should call the City of Tucson for further guidance. Voters are encouraged to view their records via the Voter Dashboard on the Pima County Recorder’s Office website. Voters log in to view their individual voting record, their mail ballot status and a list of eligible elections. Questions about voting locations, times and requirements should be directed to the City of Tucson (520) 791-3221.”
One political observer said that the entire situation “was just about the most Pima County Elections thing ever, right? I mean which is more Pima? That 358 voters got the wrong ballot thanks to an error? Or that 936 voters got the right ballot in spite of that same error?”