Arizona’s voter registration deadline is October 7 for the November 5, 2024 general election

PHOENIX – The general election is less than a month away and if you still need to register to vote, October 7 is your last day in Arizona.

You only have until 11:59 p.m. MST to register or update your registration. The easiest way to complete the process is online.

A mailed registration form must be postmarked before midnight, or you can complete it in person at a elections office.

Early voting begins Wednesday, October 9th, and mail-in ballots will also be mailed that day.

For details about where early voting centers and ballot drop boxes will be open, visit your county clerk’s website:

To be counted in the election, the ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. MST on Election Day. It is recommended that you return it by October 29th to ensure it is received on time. October 29th is also the last day to request early voting.

How can I check if I am registered as a voter?

You can check your voter registration status at Arizona.vote.

Will my political affiliation affect the way I vote?

Unlike the March presidential election and July primary, the general election is open to all registered voters.

What is the election schedule?

According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office:

• Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote in the general election
• Oct. 9: Early voting begins. Early ballots are mailed to voters who are on the active early voting list and to voters who have requested a one-time vote by mail.
• Oct. 25: Deadline to request a vote by mail.
• November 1: Early in-person voting deadline
• November 5th: General Election Day
• November 10: Identity verification deadline (for conditional provisional ballots) and deadline for remediation of early affidavit signatures
• November 21: Deadline for boards of supervisors in all Arizona counties to collect results for the election
• November 25th: Official nationwide election advertising
• December 17: Arizona’s Electoral College meets

How can I register to vote?

There are several ways to register to vote in November, but they must be done before the October 7 deadline.

Requirements for registration:

1. Be a citizen of the United States of America
2. You must be a resident of Arizona and the county listed on your registration
3. Be 18 years of age on or before the day of the next regular general election
4. Provide documentation or confirmation as proof of residency.

You cannot register to vote in Arizona if:

1. You have been convicted of a crime and your civil rights have not been restored. “For a first-time felony conviction, civil rights are automatically restored upon completion of the sentence and payment of restitution,” the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office stated.
2. They were declared incapacitated by a court.

Accepted Proof of Citizenship: An Arizona driver’s license/identification number.

If you do not have an Arizona license, you may be required to provide one of the following documents to provide proof of citizenship:

1. Your Indian Census number, Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or enter your tribal registration number in box 10 of the voter registration form.
2. A photocopy of your U.S. naturalization documents or enter your alien registration number in box 11 of the voter registration form.
3. A legible photocopy of your birth certificate and supporting legal documents (e.g. marriage certificate) if the name on the birth certificate does not match your current legal name.
4. An easy-to-read photocopy of the relevant pages of your U.S. passport.
5. A legible photocopy of your tribal certificate of Indian blood or your Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit of birth certificate.

Voter Registration Cancellation Information from the Secretary of State’s Office:

• A county recorder may cancel a voter registration if the registrant is found to be deceased, convicted of a felony, or declared mentally incompetent by a court. ARS § 16-165.
• A voter registration that has been in an inactive status for two federal election cycles (i.e. four years) can also be deleted. ARS § 16-166(E). A county clerk may move a voter registration to inactive status only after sending to the voter two pieces of official election mail returned to the county office by the United States Postal Service marked “undeliverable.” If the address where you receive mail has changed, please update your voter registration.
• Inactive voters are not eligible to vote until they update their address with the county recorder. Once this happens, a voter is returned to active status.

For voter registration details, visit the Arizona Secretary of State website.

I won’t be in town. How and where can I vote?

Arizona.vote states that official absentee ballots cannot be automatically forwarded by the Postal Service, but a voter can contact their county recorder and request that their ballot be sent to their temporary address.

Is postal voting safe?

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office says a number of measures are in place to secure the vote-by-mail process, including:

• Tamper evident envelopes
• Ballot tracking
• Security requirements for voting locations and ballot boxes
• Signature verification
• Criminal penalties for misconduct

FOX 10’s John Hook also gave us some insight the procedures followed when processing mail-in ballots.

Do I need a stamp to return an absentee ballot?

According to the State Department, stamps are not required because all early ballots come with a stamped return envelope.

How can I return my ballot after the deadline?

If it is too late to return your ballot by mail, a voter may return the ballot by placing it in a secure ballot drop box (if one exists in their county) or by dropping it off at any polling place in their county on Election Day.

How can I track my ballot status?

Ballot status can be tracked at Arizona.vote.

When do the polling stations open on election day?

On election day, polling stations open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time)

After the polls close, check FOX10Phoenix.com for the latest election results.

Where can I vote or submit my ballot?

A list of polling locations in Maricopa County can be found on the elections department website. Similarly, Pima County officials have made a list of their polling locations available online.

If you live in another Arizona county, you can find your voting location at Arizona.vote.

What ID do I need to bring with me to the polling station?

According to the Maricopa County Board of Elections, voters must present either one valid government-issued ID with the voter’s name, photo and address where they are registered to vote, or two non-photo IDs with the voter’s name and address where they are registered is staying, bring with you Registered to vote, but no photo.

You can find the exact requirements on the elections department website.

How do I report voting problems?

If you have problems voting, you can file an election complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

“If your complaint requires immediate law enforcement intervention due to an ongoing crime or an escalating situation, contact your local police department immediately,” part of the website reads.

How does the government count my vote?

Depending on when you cast your vote, the answer will be different.

Early ballots were cast before Election Day

According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, state law allows county election officials to begin counting early ballots immediately upon receipt and verification.

“All early and provisional ballots are first processed by a county recorder’s office for signature verification and then forwarded to the election official for tabulation at a central counting location. Counties can begin tabulating at any time after early voting begins, and most early ballots will be tabulated in the weeks leading up to the election,” part of the website says.

Early ballots were cast on Election Day

The Secretary of State’s Office says early ballots received on Election Day will be counted in the days immediately following the election.

“Keep in mind that all early ballots must go through the signature verification process before being tabulated, which takes time,” officials wrote.

Ballots cast on Election Day

Officials say ballots cast on Election Day will be counted either on-site or at a central counting site within a county.

“This process varies by county. Therefore, please contact your county election officials to learn more about what you may encounter at your polling location,” the website states.

Is there a way for me to track my early voting?

You can track the status of your early voting at Arizona.vote.

If you receive a provisional ballot for this election, you can track it through a dedicated section of Arizona.vote.