Arizona Kicks Off Early In-Person Voting Amid Presidential Campaign Visits
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona has commenced early in-person voting, marking it as the first among this year’s crucial presidential battleground states to allow all residents to vote at traditional polling locations before Election Day.
The initiation of early voting comes as the state prepares for visits from both presidential campaigns, with vice presidential candidates set to make appearances this week.
Both Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a Republican, are scheduled for campaign events in Tucson on Wednesday, coinciding with the start of early voting.
Vice President Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic ticket, will host a rally in Phoenix on Thursday. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump plans a Sunday event in Prescott Valley, a Republican stronghold located about 90 miles north of Phoenix.
In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden narrowly defeated Trump in Arizona by just 10,457 votes. This tight margin has fueled ongoing misinformation and conspiracy theories among certain Republican circles, challenging Biden’s victory. These tensions have led to threats against election workers, prompting enhanced security measures for polling personnel.
Maricopa County has been particularly affected, with some schools opting out as polling sites due to safety concerns related to worker harassment.
The practice of early voting, especially via mail, has been a staple in Arizona, with nearly 80% of voters casting their ballots before Election Day in the 2020 elections, as reported by the Secretary of State’s Office.
Every county in Arizona is mandated to provide at least one location for in-person voting, continuing until the Friday preceding the Nov. 5 general election. In Maricopa County, voters have access to a dozen voting centers distributed across the Phoenix metropolitan area.
As of late July, Arizona had 4.1 million registered voters, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, with numbers expected to be higher following recent registration drives by both major parties ahead of Monday’s deadline.
Early in-person voting is already underway in other states and will begin next week in four additional swing states: Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Nevada.
Are you ready to vote? Ensure you check your voter registration status and plan your voting process here.
