Arizona Early Voting Begins Wednesday

ARIZONA — Early ballots were sent out to registered voters across Arizona on Wednesday, and residents can vote early until Oct. 30 ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

The last day to request a mail in ballot is Oct. 23 by 5 p.m, or Arizonans can choose to vote in-person. A judge ruled Monday that Arizona's voter registration deadline must be extended to Oct. 23, though the decision has already been appealed.

Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez announced in a news release that she had personally witnessed the delivery of over 480,000 ballots to the Cherrybell post office in Tucson, the highest number of ballots ever mailed in a first mailing in the county. In 2016, the first mailing was only 353,861 ballots.

“We recommend that voters vote their ballot and return it to us as soon as possible,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Voters may return their ballot by mail, return it to an Early Voting Site, bring it to a curbside ballot drop-off location, or take it to any polling place on Election Day.”

Voters must use blue or black pen to fill out their ballot, place it into the white envelope provided and place that into the yellow envelope. Be sure to sign the outside and provide the best phone number to reach you at if issues arise. If you are mailing in your ballot, Oct. 27 is the last day to do so in time for Nov. 3. Don't use a first class stamp, as it slows down the postal office.

Pima County has a full list of early voting sites and locations for ballot drop-off on its website.

Maricopa County Recorder's Office spokesperson Megan Gilbertson said approximately two million ballots were mailed out Wednesday. Voters who requested a mail-in ballot or are on the Permanent Early Voting List should expect to see the yellow envelopes in their mailboxes within the next week.

The recorder's office is making an effort to expand access to voting, which has been made more difficult by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Seven vote centers also opened today in large locations that will allow for physical distancing," Gilbertson told Patch. "More locations will open throughout the month, including some evenings and weekends, dramatically expanding access for voters. On Election Day, in-person voters can choose from any of the 175 vote centers across the county. There are no assigned voting locations."

Maricopa County poll workers are required to wear masks, face shields and gloves, and are frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces and sanitizing pens after each use. Masks and gloves are available for all voters should they not bring their own.

Once a ballot is mailed or dropped off, voters can track its progress on BeBallotReady.Vote.

Voting will be open until 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.