Mohave County adopts BallotGuard security paper after tests show fewer tabulation errors; modest added cost estimated

The Mohave County Board approved using BallotGuard security ballot paper for the 2026 election cycle after county election staff and vendor tests showed improved tabulation performance in staged runs.

Deputy Elections Director Karina Sumner told the board that initial test ballots had significant multi‑feed and pick errors, but a second test using BallotGuard and allowing ballots to 'stage' for 24–48 hours produced substantially fewer errors. Across 10,500 test ballots run on three tabulation systems, multi‑feeds fell from roughly 3.6% in the first round to 0.7% in the second; pick errors decreased marginally.

Runbeck Election Services and county staff attributed the initial problems primarily to static caused by how the first batch was handled. BallotGuard stock carries embedded security features; Runbeck told staff BallotGuard would add an estimated $0.10–$0.15 per ballot. Sumner estimated an incremental cost in that range could amount to about $18,000 across typical primary and general election print runs, although staff said costs could decline if other jurisdictions adopt the same stock.

Some supervisors asked about ballot handling and whether staging and shipping could reintroduce static. Elections staff proposed mock runs and staging protocols to validate handling procedures ahead of live elections; the board encouraged a pre‑election test and approved the BallotGuard option.