By Staff Reporter |
Approximately 150,000 voters across Maricopa County should have received notices to confirm their voter registration addresses.
The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office sent two batches of notices between late July and mid-August.
Nearly 142,200 notices were sent July 31 or August 1, and more than 7,400 were sent August 14 or 15.
These voters received notices because their address on file in the Access Voter Information Database differed from the address on file with the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD).
The state’s address-comparison process and AVID reportedly could use some improvement.
At present, Arizona law requires the secretary of state’s office to compare AVID records against the MVD’s driver license database, then have the county recorders issue notices of discrepancies to voters.
Recorder Justin Heap told The Center Square that he and other county recorders have petitioned Secretary of State Adrian Fontes about improving its address-comparison process and AVID.
Address discrepancies don’t result in registration limitations or cancellations. However, it could result in the delivery of mail ballots to incorrect addresses. Voters who received a notice that contained the correct information need not reply to the county.
“It simply advises the voter of the information provided to us so they can verify it and update their registration if necessary,” said Heap. “Their voter registration remains active, and any ballot requests — including Active Early Voting List ballots — will be fulfilled as normal.”
Voters have until the voter registration deadline to act, which is October 5. Maricopa County residents may register to vote at Register.Maricopa.Vote, and check or update their voter information at BeBallotReady.Vote.
Other deadlines and critical dates are fast approaching as well.
Military and overseas ballots will be mailed out on September 19. Following the voter registration deadline on October 5, ballots will be mailed and early voting will begin on October 7.
The last day to request a replacement ballot by mail is October 23, and the last day to mail back a ballot is October 27. Election Day is on November 3.
The county is also looking for part-time and full-time election workers for the upcoming election. Interested residents may apply at GetInvolved.Maricopa.Vote. A full list of available opportunities are also available through Maricopa County Careers.
Last week, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved 254 vote centers for the election during their regular meeting. The board noted that the ballots were streamlined to one single page — one piece of paper with content on the front and back — rather than two pages as in past years.
As of the primary election in July, there were more than 2.5 million voters registered in Maricopa County; more than 901,500 registered as “other,” nearly 884,000 registered as Republicans, nearly 705,300 registered as Democrats, nearly 29,000 registered as No Labels, more than 18,200 registered as Libertarians, and nearly 3,000 registered as Green Party.
There were more than 4.3 million voters total in the state as of the primary election.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
