Why It Matters
Mohave County will become the first jurisdiction in the nation to deploy Ballot Guard paper — ballots embedded with watermarks, fibers, and microprinting — in a general election. The move reflects growing state and local interest in ballot security measures as a means to strengthen public confidence in election integrity.
What Happened
Mohave County supervisors voted unanimously in January to use Ballot Guard paper for the July 21 state primary, following a second round of testing that resolved initial technical concerns. The county’s elections department had initially encountered paper jams and multiple-page pulls during first-round testing with the county’s vote-tabulating machines, raising concerns about processing delays and potential inaccuracy.
A second test in January yielded improved results, prompting the board to authorize deployment. Elections Director Allen Tempert indicated confidence in the decision, stating the paper “works well” and that he was “comfortable” with supervisors’ choice to move forward.
The county’s use of Ballot Guard aligns with Arizona’s 2022 establishment of a $1 million grant program designed to help counties test ballot paper with added security features. Unlike some states, Arizona has not enacted legislation mandating such enhancements on ballots; adoption remains a county-level decision.
Mohave County’s rollout was aided by Cochise County, which transferred 10 tons of unused Ballot Guard paper to the county free of charge in May. That donation reduced immediate supply constraints and helped the county prepare for the primary.
By the Numbers
July 21 — scheduled date of the Arizona state primary election
$1 million — amount of Arizona’s state grant program for testing ballot security features (established in 2022)
15 cents — additional cost per ballot for Ballot Guard compared to the county’s previous paper
10 tons — quantity of ballot paper transferred by Cochise County to Mohave County in May
2026 — year the county expects to absorb the added cost without additional expense to the county budget
Zoom Out
Election security measures have grown more visible across states in recent years, driven in part by public concerns about ballot integrity. Most security enhancements remain at the state or county level, as federal law does not dictate ballot materials or design. Mohave County’s deployment of Ballot Guard represents a rare case of a county serving as a test case for a technology that other jurisdictions may evaluate for future adoption.
Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter framed the decision in terms of institutional responsibility, saying the county is “contributing positively to this big overarching issue of voter confidence and election integrity.”
What’s Next
Ballot Guard will be used for the first time in Mohave County during the July 21 primary. The county’s interim elections director, Karina Sumner, is set to assume the role on July 4, taking over from retiring Elections Director Allen Tempert. County leadership will monitor processing performance and accuracy metrics during the primary to assess whether the enhanced paper meets operational expectations and whether broader adoption in future elections is warranted.