Election day is here. What to know about voting in Arizona's presidential primary
Arizona voters are expected to head to the polls on March 19 to cast their votes in the presidential preference election.
Voting centers will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday for in-person voting and for early voters to continue to drop off ballots.
If you are not registered to vote in this election, there's still time to register before the July primary and November general elections. You can do so online or by printing out a voter registration form and mailing it to your county recorder's office.
Before you head to the polls, here's what you need to know.
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Who is on the ballot?
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in December announced nine Republicans qualified for Arizona's presidential preference election. Among them are former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
President Joe Biden will be running in the presidential preference election on the Democratic side. Fontes announced in December six other Democrats qualified for the ballot: Frankie Lozada, Gabriel Cornejo, Marianne Williamson, Jason Palmer, Stephen Lyons and Dean Phillips.
Biden and Trump have already clinched their parties' nominations for the presidential race. Nonetheless, voters will still weigh in on their choice of presidential nominee.
If the nominees are obvious, will the election be canceled?
No. Only the state Republican and Democratic parties can cancel their preference elections, and the deadline for the parties to do so has passed.
If you vote for a candidate who has pulled out of the race, your vote will be still be counted — although it is highly unlikely that candidate would resume campaigning.
Will I be assigned a polling place?
It depends on which county you live in.
Most counties will use a voting center model for this election, which allows voters to cast ballots at any polling site within its borders. Those counties include:
Cochise County
La Paz County
Maricopa County
Navajo County
Pima County
Santa Cruz County
Yavapai County
Yuma County
Other counties will use a precinct-based voting model in which voters are assigned a polling place based on where they reside. Those counties include:
Apache County
Mohave County
Pinal County
Some counties will use a hybrid model, offering some vote centers and some precinct-based voting options in specific areas. Those counties include:
Coconino County
Gila County
Graham County
Greenlee County
Check with your local election officials to find polling places in your county.
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Do I need to show ID at the polls?
Yes, you must show identification at the polls, unless you are dropping off a mail-in ballot in a signed affidavit envelope.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
Your valid Arizona driver's license
Your valid state identification card
Your tribal enrollment card
Other government-issued identification
Two items, such as a utility bill and a bank statement, that bear your name and address
I'm dropping off my ballot on election day. Can I skip the line?
Yes. If you are just dropping off a mail-in ballot, you can skip the line and go straight to the drop box when you arrive at the polling site.
I'm an independent. Can I vote?
No. Voters who aren't registered with a political party cannot vote in the presidential preference election.
Independents will be eligible to vote in the July primary election, but must choose between a Republican, Democratic or municipal-only ballot. Even if you’re an independent on the Active Early Voting List, you won't be automatically mailed a primary ballot unless you contact your county recorder to select a party.
Can I track my ballot?
Yes. Maricopa County voters can track their ballot at BeBallotReady.Vote. Pima County voters can track their ballot on the county recorder’s website. Voters in other parts of Arizona can track their ballot via BallotTrax.
If the polls close while I'm in line, what should I do?
If the polls close while you are still in line to vote, don't leave. As long as you are in line at 7 p.m., you have a right to cast your ballot.
What should I do if I encounter issues at the polls?
If you run into any issues at the polls, you can get help by calling the Arizona Secretary of State's Office at 877-THE-VOTE.
Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip to share on elections or voting? Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Election day is here. How to vote in Arizona's presidential primary