IN FOCUS - Oct. 25, 2024

It looks like Arizona voters got the message: vote early.

Both political parties have been urging their voters to get their ballots in. Yes, even Donald Trump. Through Thursday, over 1.2 million ballots statewide had been voted or returned, and Arizona Republicans are outpacing Democrats in the early returns. But it’s, again, early … and anyone’s guess whether that trend will continue.

Election officials have been nervous about the state’s two-page ballot and the possibility that its length, combined with a crush of Election Day voters, could result in long lines. Every ballot cast before Nov. 5 reduces that likelihood.

That’s not all. Mail-in ballots that are mailed back (what a concept) can be verified in advance and tabulated quickly on Election Day. Alternatively, a large part of the reason Maricopa County is warning about 10 or more days to count the vote is because of the hundreds of thousands of voters who typically drop off their mail-in ballot on Election Day. 

Those ballots must undergo signature verification in the days that follow. And that’ll keep the state - and nation - waiting in suspense if Arizona again has races that hang in the balance.

So … if you requested a mail-in ballot, don’t delay. Every ballot cast early will help us all rest a little easier in the days following the election.