Maricopa County could reconsider its election-vendor contracts after a contractor sent thousands of mail ballots ahead of schedule, but replacing outside help entirely would be difficult, Supervisor Thomas Galvin said Oct. 8. Runbeck Election Services sent 3,126 general-election ballots to the U.S. Postal Service six days before early voting was scheduled to start. Officials said the ballots went to the correct voters and remain valid. Galvin said the mistake was not acceptable and that the vendor apologized to the County Recorder’s Office. Contract decisions are made through a bidding process after an election, Galvin said. The Recorder’s Office indicates which vendor it prefers, he said, but he did not say whether he believes Runbeck should be replaced. Runbeck, based in Phoenix, provides election services in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Its work includes printing and processing ballots on specialized high-speed equipment. Galvin said few companies offer the services needed by Maricopa County, the nation’s second-largest voting jurisdiction. He also questioned whether the county could handle all election logistics with its own staff. Elections require many workers for a limited period, he said, making it impractical to keep enough full-time employees on hand year-round for peak demand. A larger county election center is expected to be ready for the 2028 presidential election. Galvin said the current facility is too small for the county’s needs and that the new center will allow faster vote counting and accommodate more workers. He encouraged residents to sign up through Maricopa County’s election website to work in the current election. The premature mailing has raised questions about oversight of a private contractor handling a critical part of election administration. Galvin said the county could change vendors in a future contracting cycle, but expects it will continue to rely on outside companies for at least some election operations.