November 08, 2022
Today is Election Day: 223 Vote Centers are Open
It’s Election Day and Maricopa County voters can vote in person or drop off an early ballot at any of the county’s 223 Vote Centers until 7 p.m.
More than 966,000 voters have already participated in the November General Election, and the polls are open to serve voters from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the final day of voting. Search for a convenient location, sort by shortest wait times, and more at Locations.Maricopa.Vote.
“Election Day is an important part of the array of voting options we provide voters in Maricopa County," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. "Ensuring voters have the ability to vote any way they want during election season will remain a priority in Maricopa County. Thanks to all who let their voice be heard in the 2022 General Election.”
“We know a lot of our residents prefer to vote on Election Day and we’ve made it convenient for them to do so with fully-staffed, fully-resourced Vote Centers in all corners of the county,” said Vice Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4. “Please come out and exercise your right to vote if you haven’t done so already.”
While it is too late for voters with early ballots at home to mail them back, voters can drop them off at a Vote Center or secure ballot drop box. Early voters with their signed green envelopes in hand are encouraged to skip the line and drop off their ballot in a secure drop box inside.
Voters can track and verify the status of their ballot by texting "JOIN" to 628-683 or by visiting BeBallotReady.Vote.
“Today, voters from all over Maricopa County will be going to one of our 223 voting centers from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. to cast their vote," said Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. "Election workers from our community have been preparing for today, to support and assist you in every way they can. Voters can find a voting location, including wait times, by visiting Locations.Maricopa.Vote. No matter how you have decided to cast your ballot in this year’s midterm election, we celebrate your participation in our democracy.”
“Every voter should be able to cast a ballot free from intimidation,” said Supervisor Jack Sellers, District 1. “Partnering with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and others, we have security measures in place to ensure election laws are followed and voting locations are safe and welcoming.”
Nearly 3,000 temporary employees were hired to support this election, and the County was at about 98% staffed in the 223 Vote Centers.
“We could not have free and fair elections without our dedicated Elections Department staff, thousands of volunteers from our community, and the political party representatives whose observation provides an important check and balance on a proven system,” said Supervisor Thomas Galvin, District 2. “I want to thank everyone working hard today and in the coming days to help us administer an efficient, accurate midterm election.”
The Elections Department will post unofficial results at 8 p.m. at Results.Maricopa.Vote. The first posting of results will be all the early ballots counted to that point. Throughout Election night, the County plans to post results from the Election Day Vote Centers.
"While the media may ‘call’ a race tonight based on partial results, as a former election worker myself, I know the work doesn’t end today,” said Supervisor Steve Gallardo, District 5. “Using federally and state certified tabulation equipment, we will count ballots in accordance with state law, with robust signature verification and bipartisan processing boards. Our estimate is that more than 95% of the ballots will be tabulated within three days of the polls closing.”
The County is expecting 150,000-250,000 early ballots to be dropped off on today. All of those early ballots must first be signature verified and processed, before they are counted. The County must also complete the tallying of write-in candidates, researching provisional ballots and curing questionable signatures prior to finalizing the counts.
Due to a new Arizona law, the County is also preparing for the increased chance of an automatic recount after final results are confirmed. Senate Bill 1008 increased the automatic recount threshold from a tenth of one percent to half of one percent. If a statewide contest triggers the new threshold, Arizona counties must count all the ballots on the machines a second time beginning in December after the Statewide canvass. It’s likely the courts would finalize the recount in late December.