When does arizona start counting mail in ballots
In Arizona, mail-in ballots are counted on Election Day, which is typically the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. However, the process of counting mail-in ballots begins several days before Election Day.
Here's a general outline of the process:
- Early Voting Period: In Arizona, voters can cast their ballots in person at early voting locations or by mail starting 18 days before Election Day. During this period, voters can submit their mail-in ballots at early voting locations or return them by mail.
- Mail-In Ballot Processing: The Maricopa County Recorder's Office, which is responsible for processing mail-in ballots, begins processing mail-in ballots on the 15th day before Election Day. During this time, they verify the signatures on the ballots, check for any errors or issues, and separate the ballots into batches.
- Sorting and Tabulation: On the 10th day before Election Day, the Maricopa County Recorder's Office begins sorting and tabulating the mail-in ballots. They use a machine to read the ballots and count the votes.
- Election Day: On Election Day, the Maricopa County Recorder's Office continues to count mail-in ballots throughout the day. They also count any provisional ballots that were cast in person on Election Day.
- Final Results: The final results of the election are typically released by the Maricopa County Recorder's Office on Election Night, which is usually around 8:00 PM local time. However, it's not uncommon for the results to be updated over the next few days as more mail-in ballots are counted.
It's worth noting that Arizona law requires that all mail-in ballots be counted, even if they are received after Election Day. However, the deadline for submitting mail-in ballots is 7:00 PM on Election Day. Any ballots received after that time will not be counted.