One of the most exciting rights of passage when turning 18 is getting to VOTE and having the opportunity to have your voice heard. But, in order to check the box on your ballot, there are some very important steps you must follow to prepare to vote. To vote, you must first register and you must meet the following requirements (A.R.S. §16-101):
- A citizen of the United States;
- Will be 18 or older on or before the date of the next regular general election following your registration;
- A resident of the state for 29 days before the election;
- Able to write your name, unless prevented by physical disability;
- Not convicted of treason or a felony (unless your civil rights have been restored); and
- Not adjudicated as an incapacitated person as defined in Arizona law (A.R.S. §14-5101).
See the Arizona Constitution Article 7 §2 and A.R.S. §16-101 for additional information about voting in Arizona.
Q: Where do I go to register to vote?
A: There are several ways you can register to vote:
- If you have a valid AZ Driver's License or ID, you can register at ServiceArizona.com.
- You can print out and complete the voter registration form and mail it to your County Recorder’s Office. You can find the form by visiting the Secretary of State website at azsos.gov/elections/voters and select “Register/Update to Vote.”
- You can visit your County Recorder’s Office and fill out a registration form in person.
Q: I forgot to register. Can I just show up to vote anyway?
A: No. You cannot vote unless you have properly registered (A.R.S. §16-122). However, there are some exceptions (A.R.S §16-125, A.R.S. §16-135, & A.R.S. §16-584).
Q: I filled out an early ballot but then forgot to mail it in. Can I just vote at the poll?
A: If you forgot to mail in your early ballot on time, you can skip the line and turn it in at any polling location in your county. The poll workers will show you where to drop off your early ballot. (A.R.S. §16-579.02)
Q: Where do I vote?
A: You may vote in person at the polling place in the precinct in which you live, or at an early voting site.(A.R.S. §16-411) For location information, contact your county recorder’s office or visit the Secretary of State’s website: http://azsos.gov/elections/voters/voting-elections.
You may also vote early by mail, by requesting an official early ballot no later than 11 days before the election. To request an official early ballot, contact your county recorder’s office, go online to ServiceArizona.com, or visit the Secretary of State’s website: azsos.gov/elections/voters/voting-elections/early-voting (A.R.S. §16-541 & §16-542). Early ballots are mailed in, allowing you to vote without going to a polling place.
Q: What do I need to bring to the polls?
A: When you arrive to vote at the polls on Election Day, you will present one form of identification from the list below. If you do not have one of the items below, you can still vote using two forms of alternate identification (A.R.S. §16-579(A)). The list of alternate identification can be found on the Secretary of State’s website at https://azsos.gov/elections/voters/voting-election .
Acceptable forms of identification include: Arizona driver's license; Arizona identification card; Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification; United States federal, state, or local government-issued identification.
Q: If I’m away at college, can I just vote there?
A: Yes, but only if you have registered there. Otherwise you will need to vote by requesting an official early ballot for the precinct in which you are registered (A.R.S. §16-543).
Q: How can I change my address?
A: You may change your address online at ServiceArizona.com if you have a state issued I.D. or by mail or in person at your County Recorder’s office.
Laws may have changed since the last time this article was updated. The current and most up-to-date laws can be accessed here.