Early ballots for November election sent to Arizona voters

Pima County officials will send more than 486,000 ballots to voters Wednesday, kicking off early voting in this year’s presidential election.

Polls show the race for the White House remains neck-and-neck in Arizona and both Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump have made campaign swings through the state in recent weeks, as have their surrogates.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance will both be in Tucson Wednesday.

Besides the presidential race, voters will pick candidates in races that include the contest for a U.S. Senate seat between U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and former Phoenix newscaster and failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, as well as campaigns for U.S. Congress, the Arizona Legislature, the Pima County Board of Supervisors and many others. On top of that, voters will decide 13 statewide propositions plus local measures in suburban communities and school districts.

There are so many choices that election officials had to use a two-card, four-page ballot, with contests for candidates on the front page of the first card and the propositions on the back page of the first card and both the front and back pages of the second card.

Pima County Elections Director Constance Hargrove urged voters to return both cards.

“If somebody returns only one card, that’s what we have to count for that voter,” Hargrove said.

The deadline to register to vote was Monday.

The ballots sent Wednesday went to voters on the Active Early Voter List, a directory of voters who have signed up to receive a ballot in every election. There were 486,840 voters on the list as of Monday, according to Michael Truelsen, a spokesperson for the Recorder’s Office.

Voters can still request an early ballot by calling 520-724-4330 or visiting the Pima County Recorder’s Office website by Oct. 25.

Ballots have to be in the custody of the Pima County Recorder’s Office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 or they will be disqualified, so voters are encouraged to mail their early ballots back by Oct 29.

After that day, voters are encouraged to drop off completed ballots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 5 at various locations, including the branch offices of the Pima County Recorder’s Office and other early voting locations.

If voters wish to cast a ballot in person, early polling sites are open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Pima County Recorder’s Office branches at 240 N. Stone Ave., and 6550 S. Country Club Road, as well as between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Fellowship Bible Church, 6700 E. Broadway Blvd.

Completed early ballots can be dropped off at those locations and at the recorder’s East Side office, 6920 E. Broadway Blvd, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The office is closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

Find a full list of the early voting sites that will open later this month here.

County election officials plan to open 126 vote centers across Pima County on Nov. 5. They anticipate high turnout and plan to expand the number of voting booths and related supplies.

“This is when everybody turns out to vote,” said Pima County Deputy Elections Director Jeremy George.

Visit Pima.Vote for more details about voting in Pima County.