Pima County, Arizona's second-largest county by population, is set to relocate its Recorder’s Office and Elections Department to a new, larger headquarters next year. The move, expected as early as May, will consolidate operations from three separate locations into a single, upgraded facility designed to improve efficiency, security, and public access.
The new building will provide double the space for election work, addressing significant logistical challenges faced in the current cramped offices. Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly stated the move is a "really big deal" for both staff and voters, allowing for better service and enhanced security for ballots.
Key Takeaways
- Pima County's Recorder’s Office and Elections Department will move to a new, consolidated headquarters as early as May 2025.
- The new facility will be double the size of the current 7,000-square-foot elections workspace.
- The move aims to improve operational efficiency, ballot security, and public transparency.
- Upgrades include a waterless fire suppression system, a backup generator, and a centralized public observation area.
Addressing Current Operational Challenges
The current setup for Pima County's election administration is spread across three different offices in Tucson. This fragmented arrangement creates daily logistical hurdles, particularly during busy election cycles. According to Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, staff frequently travel between locations to access equipment and materials.
"If we’re not having to drive to multiple locations just to access our equipment, that means more people on our phones, more people training," Cázares-Kelly explained, highlighting how consolidation will free up valuable staff time to better serve the public.
A History of Making Do
The existing primary elections office is a mere 7,000 square feet, roughly the size of one and a half basketball courts. Despite its limitations, this space handled the processing of 518,416 ballots during the 2024 presidential election. Cázares-Kelly recounted a tour with a Tucson city clerk who was "so impressed that you’ve been able to do so much in this tiny space."
Storage is another significant issue. Election materials like signage and sign holders are currently kept in various locations throughout the county. Staff must gather, clean, and distribute these items for each election, a time-consuming process for a county that has already held four elections this year.
Enhanced Security and Chain of Custody
One of the most critical improvements in the new facility is the focus on ballot security. In the current building, a potential malfunction of the fire sprinkler system poses a risk to paper ballots. To mitigate this, workers cover all ballots with tarps every night as a precaution.
The new headquarters will eliminate this concern entirely by installing a waterless fire retardant system, ensuring ballots are protected without the risk of water damage.
"I think the takeaway is the chain of custody, security of the ballots, is our primary concern. And so having the recorder and elections in the same building is a benefit to the county and to the public."
The decision to keep both departments in one building was crucial. An earlier proposal suggested separating the Recorder's Office from the Elections Department. Elections Director Constance Hargrove noted this would have been a security problem, as it would have required staff to wheel ballots from one building to another.
A New Facility Designed for Voters and Staff
The new headquarters will be located in a county-owned building on the south side of Tucson that was previously used by the federal government to process asylum seekers. While the cost of the renovation and move has not yet been finalized, the design plans prioritize both functionality and public access.
Key Features of the New Headquarters:
- Twice the Space: The area dedicated to election work will double in size.
- Designated Training Room: A dedicated space for training poll workers and staff.
- Improved Staff Amenities: The facility will include larger break rooms and a lactation room.
- Backup Power: A backup generator will ensure operations can continue during power outages.
- Public Observation Area: A new viewing area will allow the public and media to observe the recorder's operations and ballot counting simultaneously, which is not possible in the current layout.
Focus on Voter Accessibility
The new location was chosen with voters in mind. It is situated near a high-volume shopping plaza on the south side of Tucson. "We are specifically designing the space with the idea that voters will come and drop off their ballots in person," said Cázares-Kelly. The plan includes 24/7 accessible ballot drop boxes at the facility.
While the Elections Department itself was not as space-constrained as the Recorder's Office, Director Constance Hargrove said her team will benefit from the larger break room and dedicated training space. The move represents a comprehensive upgrade for the county's entire election infrastructure.
Architects are still working with the Recorder's Office to finalize the design of the new space. According to spokesperson Michael Truelsen, an official cost estimate for the project is not yet available. The move signifies a major investment in the county's democratic process, promising a more secure and efficient system for future elections.