Voters in Pima County should prepare for a busy election on November 5. This year’s ballot includes not only the presidential election but also 34 local and state offices and 19 propositions—13 statewide and up to 6 local or school-related. County officials are encouraging everyone to research the issues and vote on both sides of their two-card ballots, according to official county communications.
To reduce potential delays at polling stations, Pima County Elections is increasing ballot supplies, adding more voting booths, hiring extra staff, and bringing in additional printers. These measures aim to address the slower voting process expected with the dual-card system, especially during a high turnout year. “Everybody can make a plan for this long ballot by not only studying how they want to vote but by picking an option that works best for them – vote by mail, early in-person or at the polls on Election Day,” Pima County Elections Director Constance Hargrove advised, in a statement procured by Pima County's Newsroom.
Details about the election are available on the Pima.Vote website, including important dates for voter registration and deadlines, a helpful map outlining the 126 Vote Centers, and resources for checking one's registration status. A sample ballot is set soon to be available, assisting voters to familiarize with the two-card system before they head to the polls.
It’s crucial for voters to know that both cards must be returned if voting by mail or dropping off the ballot, as any incomplete submissions will only be partially counted. "If somebody returns only one card, that’s what we have to count for that voter," Hargrove iterated. To cut down on time spent at voting booths on Election Day, Pima County suggests filling in your sample ballot with your preferred candidates and propositions in advance and bringing it—or any other helpful notes—to guide your hand in voting, as mentioned by Pima County's official website.
For those interested in partaking in the democratic process, circle October 7 on your calendars—this is the deadline to register to vote. If you're eager to get ahead of the crowd, early voting begins on October 9, with the Pima County Recorder’s Office set to start mailing out the early ballots. The county's preparations and reminders are well-intentioned efforts to ease what promises to be an election of considerable weight and participation.
