Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved the canvas of the May 17 special election, when voters passed Proposition 123 and Proposition 124. (Photo by Krandall Bartley/Cronkite News)
Updated at 5:50 p.m. May 26, 2016.
PHOENIX — The May 17 special election results have been approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and county election officials pledged to make sure the primary and general elections run smoothly.
Supervisors certified that voters approved Proposition 123, the education funding measure, and Proposition 124, a pensions measure, on Wednesday.
Gov. Doug Ducey signed the proclamations on Thursday afternoon.
Elizabeth Bartholomew, spokeswoman for the county Elections Department, said the May election went well compared to the presidential preference election in March that led to long lines of angry voters at the polls.
“Yes, it was definitely a relief that we could present to them a canvass after a successful election,” Bartholomew said. “We kind of expect the same to happen for the primary and general elections.” Bartholomew said.
She said election officials will increase the number of polling places — to 724 — and return to a system in which residents go to their assigned polling place to cast a vote in the November election rather than anywhere in the county.
Supervisor Steve Gallardo, who harshly criticized the March election, was relieved to see last week’s Election Day go well.
“I think there was a lot of excitement towards this election,” Gallardo said.