Election 2020 In Arizona: Presidential Race, U.S. Senate And More

ARIZONA — Weeks of early voting and campaigning will culminate on Tuesday, with Election Day finally in sight.

Arizonans, like many Americans, have turned out in droves to vote early, surpassing the total number of votes cast in the state in 2016 in the days before Nov. 3. While Arizona has long had a robust mail-in voting program, early voting became more of a necessity for many during the coronavirus pandemic. State election officials had already received 2.3 million ballots by Oct. 30, just shy of the 2.6 million people who voted in Arizona in 2016.

Ballots must be received by Nov. 3 to be counted. Any voter that turns in a ballot with signatures that don't match what election officials have in their database will be given five business days to fix the issue.

Arizona polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at a polling place past 7 p.m. will still be allowed to cast their vote. Voters can drop off their early ballots in-person Tuesday as well. Find a polling place near you on your county recorder's website. Per Arizona law, the first round of results won't be released until 8 p.m.

If you're going to the polls in person, all voters will need a black pen, valid identification and a mask. Social distancing will also be required in order to comply with coronavirus guidelines.

Election Day comes as Arizona experiences an uptick in new coronavirus cases. The state reported 666 new cases and one death Monday, which is historically a slow day for reporting. Arizona saw 1,527 new cases Sunday. The number of tests returning positive has now increased to nearly 10 percent.

Arizona's 11 electoral votes are up for grabs in 2020, with former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, leading in the typically red state. The most recent poll average from FiveThirtyEight shows Biden has a small 2.6 percent advantage over Republican President Donald Trump in the Grand Canyon State. Trump won Arizona by 3.5 percent in 2016.

A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't won in Arizona since 1996. But Arizona's shifting demographics and rapid population growth, particularly in Maricopa County, could see the state turning blue this year.

Both campaigns have made Arizona a focal point in the weeks leading up to Nov. 3. Trump and his running-mate, Vice President Mike Pence, have both held rallies in the state a handful of times. Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., have made in-person campaign stops twice.

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Arizona election officials have warned that winners might not be declared on Election Night due to the influx of early voters and the ballot signature law on the books. That rule means that the final tally won't be available until Nov. 10. If a race is tight, it might not be called until all ballots are signature-verified and counted.

But the presidential race isn't the only one happening on Nov. 3. Arizona's senate race between Sen. Martha McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly has been given national attention. Several congressional seats and the entire state legislature are on the ballot as well, among other important local races.

Here are the races Patch will be updating live on Election Night:

1. Arizona Presidential Election Results

2. Maricopa County Presidential Election Results

3. Arizona Senate Election Results

4. Arizona 6th Congressional District Election Results

5. Maricopa County Attorney Election Results

6. Pima County Sheriff Election Results

Check back here when the polls close for live updating results.