Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Maricopa County Elections Department is considering a revised election model for the August 4 Primary Election.
The proposed plan would move Maricopa County to an all Vote Center election model for the Primary Election, and would include 10-14 days of in-person voting. All locations would adhere to strict cleaning and physical distancing guidelines. The plan would also focus on voter education on how to vote at home. Voters have the option to request an early mail-in ballot for this election or add their name to the permanent early voting list.
Today, Director of Election Day and Emergency Voting Scott Jarrett walked the Board of Supervisors through the reasons behind the proposal and the strategies moving forward. Watch the Board meeting here.
“When developing this revised model for the Primary Election, our top priority is to implement safety measures at our polling locations,” Jarrett said. “Most of the traditional polling locations are not large enough to implement proper physical distancing, which is one of the primary factors we’re considering when selecting a voting location.”
The Elections Department is looking to open 75-100 Vote Centers during the early voting period and on Election Day. With 73 percent of Maricopa County voters on the Permanent Early Voting List, the Elections Department is also working on a plan to inform voters of their voting options, while making it easier for voters to request a one-time mail-in ballot or add their name to the permanent early voting list.
Voters can find information about elections in a personalized dashboard at BeBallotReady.Vote.