Maricopa County has started construction on a new tabulation and election center, aiming to improve the administration of future elections. The facility, expected to open in summer 2027, is designed to enhance security, efficiency, and transparency in ballot processing.
Thomas Galvin, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for District 2, said, “When it comes to running elections, three things are of the utmost importance to me: following State law as prescribed by the Legislature, transparency, and focusing on what best serves Maricopa County voters. This facility is a momentous step forward in achieving all three objectives and setting a new bar for how elections are run nationwide.”
The new center will triple warehouse space for equipment storage and more than double capacity for pre-tabulation processing and ballot tabulation. It will also include command centers for in-person voting support, areas for training temporary election workers, expanded observation spaces, and facilities suitable for media coverage.
Vice Chair Kate Brophy McGee from District 3 stated, “I have always believed that elections are about people – voters, first and foremost, but also about the people who plan for and administer elections. The project team that designed this building did so with a focus on people, and I truly believe that this facility is in the public’s best interest and will make our free and fair elections run even better.”
Supervisor Mark Stewart from District 1 added, “Responsible governance equals good business, and that invites trust from our customers: Maricopa County residents. As the county grows, we will continue to invest in solutions that prioritize customer service and voter integrity. This marks an exciting new chapter of efficiency and transparency. I will continue to work with the Recorder to ensure his needs are met while being mindful of taxpayer dollars.”
Designed by DLR Group with enhanced security features for staff safety and protection of ballots and equipment, the facility will house election functions overseen by both the Board of Supervisors and the Recorder’s Office.
Supervisor Debbie Lesko from District 4 commented, “All of us on the Board are united in our commitment to improving election administration in Maricopa County and building trust among voters. We’ve done that by advocating for changes to state election law, approving a comprehensive, independent election audit, and now building this brand-new elections facility. It is my hope that the many steps we are taking will instill even more confidence in our elections processes.”
The design phase began in September 2023; construction was approved by the Board in February 2025. Core Construction is managing completion with operations planned ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
Supervisor Steve Gallardo from District 5 noted growth since he began working on local election administration: “I’ve been involved in election administration for a long time, and it’s been incredible to see our processes evolve for the better. We’ve grown exponentially to 2.6 million registered voters and gone from elections that weren’t close to a divided electorate where our races are closer than ever. The way this facility was designed will be looked at by other jurisdictions as a model in efficient, transparent election administration.”
A dirt toss ceremony at the construction site took place May 22 after rescheduling due to earlier medical emergencies.
Meanwhile academic achievement remains an area of concern within Maricopa County schools; during the 2022-23 school year over half of students failed both mathematics (62.9% grades 3–8; https://www.azed.gov/; 65% high school ACT; https://www.azed.gov/) and English sections (57.2% grades 3–8 AASA; https://www.azed.gov/; 57% high school ACT; https://www.azed.gov/). In contrast recent data shows some improvement: In mathematics during 2023-24 about one-third of high schoolers passed (33.9%; https://www.azed.gov/) while approximately 36% of third through eighth graders succeeded (https://www.azed.gov/).
A media toolkit with photos and video footage from construction is available online.
