Borrelli Touts Mohave County’s Groundbreaking Ballot Safety Measures

On April 21, 2025, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved a new election services contract with Runbeck Election Services, a Phoenix-based company known for its ballot printing and processing capabilities. The contract, awarded through a formal bidding process, is part of the county’s initiative to enhance election security and efficiency.

During the board meeting, supervisors expressed confidence that the language and provisions of this contract could serve as a model for other counties across Arizona. They emphasized the importance of standardized procedures and transparency in bolstering public trust in the electoral process.

During the board meeting, Elections Director Allen Tempert highlighted that only two companies submitted bids for the contract. Runbeck was the sole bidder to address the Board’s specific concern regarding anti-counterfeiting measures. Tempert noted that Runbeck committed to implementing five key security features to protect against ballot counterfeiting.

Tempert told former Senator Borrelli, who now serves on the BOS, that when Borrelli was a senator, he championed “Ballot Guard.” Runbeck agreed they could implement several new measures at an additional cost.

These measures include:

1. Invisible Fibers
2. Proprietary Watermark
3. IR Taggant
4. UV Dead Paper
5. Microprint

Supervisor Borrelli expressed optimism about Mohave County’s leadership in election security, stating, “Hopefully we will be the standard bearer for the entire state and prove that this could be done.” The contract with Runbeck Election Services includes provisions that, if adopted by other counties, could lead to cost savings due to economies of scale. This collaborative approach aims to enhance election integrity across Arizona.

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors’ meeting is available for public viewing on the county’s official YouTube channel. The discussion regarding the election services contract with Runbeck Election Services is addressed under Item 11 of the meeting agenda.