Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis has a message for voters: If you plan to vote by mail, don’t wait until Election Day to return your ballot.
Speaking at the City of Maricopa Republican Club’s meeting Saturday, Lewis encouraged voters to cast their ballots early, saying the timing of when early ballots are returned can affect how quickly election results are reported on election night.
Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Oct. 7, with the voter registration deadline falling Oct. 5.
Lewis said about 80% of Pinal County voters typically vote early, either by mail or through in-person early voting. Between 17% and 19% typically cast an Election Day ballot at a polling location, she said.
“That first drop of results, that’s all those early ballots,” Lewis said. “So please, if you can get your happy behind into the polls on election day, it should be to vote on a live ballot, not to drop off your late early ballot.”
Lewis said the county has five satellite offices where voters can cast early ballots. The nearest location for Maricopa early voters is at the Maricopa-Stanfield Justice Court, 19955 N. Wilson Ave., Building 100.
Unlike Election Day voting, which Lewis said remains precinct-based in Pinal County, voters can use any of the county’s satellite offices during the early-voting period.
Lewis said the county has 93 voting locations for Election Day and emphasized that voters casting ballots that day must go to their designated polling location.
She also discussed the county’s ballot drop boxes, saying Pinal County has 15 located on county property and monitored by recorded surveillance.
Voter registration can be completed online or by mail.
