Arizona mail in ballot law
Arizona has a mail-in ballot law that allows voters to cast their ballots by mail. Here are some key provisions of the law:
Eligibility: Any registered voter in Arizona is eligible to vote by mail.
Requesting a Mail-in Ballot: Voters can request a mail-in ballot by:
- Filling out a request form and submitting it to their county recorder's office.
- Using an online portal provided by the Arizona Secretary of State's office.
- Calling their county recorder's office to request a ballot.
Deadline: The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is typically 5-7 days before the election.
Ballot Return: Completed mail-in ballots must be returned to the county recorder's office by the close of polls on Election Day.
Signature Verification: The county recorder's office verifies the signature on the ballot envelope to ensure it matches the voter's signature on file.
Voter ID: Arizona law requires voters to provide identification when requesting a mail-in ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- A Arizona driver's license
- A Arizona state ID
- A tribal ID
- A passport
- A birth certificate
- A Social Security card
Ballot Tracking: Arizona law requires counties to provide a tracking system for mail-in ballots, allowing voters to track the status of their ballot.
Provisional Ballots: If a mail-in ballot is rejected due to a signature mismatch or other issue, the voter may be issued a provisional ballot, which can be counted if the issue is resolved.
Security Measures: Arizona law requires counties to implement various security measures to protect mail-in ballots, including:
- Secure envelopes
- Tamper-evident seals
- Barcodes to track ballots
- Secure storage facilities
Funding: Arizona law provides funding for counties to implement and administer the mail-in ballot program.
Voter Education: Arizona law requires counties to provide voter education materials to inform voters about the mail-in ballot process, including instructions on how to request and return a ballot.
It's worth noting that Arizona's mail-in ballot law has been the subject of controversy and litigation in recent years, particularly with regards to issues of voter suppression and election security.