These days, going to the polls on election day is not as common as it used to be just a few years ago.
Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cazares-Kelly stated that voting by mail continues to be highly favored in Pima County and across the state. She emphasized that almost 80% of Arizonans choose to participate in mail voting.
The Pima County Recorder’s office is urging voters to send in their ballots before the deadline for the upcoming general election. With two card ballots being used this year, there is even more reason to ensure that your vote is submitted on time.
According to Cazares-Kelly, voters will need to allocate more time to fill out their ballot. She emphasizes the importance of requesting a mail-in ballot and taking the time to research and discuss choices with others. Whether it’s on a computer, phone, or with friends and family, the goal is to make informed decisions about candidates and propositions.
Election officials nationwide are expressing concerns about the ongoing issue of mailed ballots not reaching their offices in time to be counted. This was observed during the recent primary season, and officials fear that the problem still persists.
Cochise County Recorder David Stevens explained that they receive two types of issues regarding the post office. The majority of the issues are related to people mailing their ballots after the election. These late-arriving ballots are usually postmarked three to five, or even seven days after the election.
Election officials across the country have addressed their concerns to the USPS, pointing out that in the past year, there have been instances where properly addressed election mail has been returned as undeliverable. This particular issue has the potential to automatically place voters in an inactive status. However, both Pima and Cochise County Recorders have stated that this is not a widespread problem in their respective areas.
Cazares-Kelly stated that they were not observing the same delays that others were experiencing across the country.
As a voter, it is your responsibility to ensure that your vote is counted. The majority of the effort in this regard lies with the individual voter.
In less than a month, Pima County plans to mail out a staggering number of over 470,000 ballots.