Early voting in Arizona’s July 21 primary elections gets underway soon. This is the election that determines who will represent the political parties in November’s general elections.
This year the entire process of how citizens can cast their ballot may seem confusing, with President Donald Trump calling for an end to mail-in voting, upheaval over political redistricting in other states and a prominent turf war for election control in Maricopa County.
Early voting in Arizona’s July 21 primary elections gets underway soon. This is the election that determines who will represent the political parties in November’s general elections.
Despite the controversies, voting rules have not changed significantly in Arizona since the 2024 election cycle.
Historically, primary elections are low-turnout affairs, though the summer results effectively determine many races where one party typically dominates.
This year, Republican voters will pick the nominees in relatively high-profile races, from governor to an open congressional seat. Democratic voters will choose a nominee in the same congressional race and have a spate of state legislative contests to settle as well.
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Here’s what you need to know.
When is Arizona's primary election?
Voting ends on Tuesday, July 21.
That’s the most critical deadline, but there are other important dates ahead of that.
On June 6, election officials mail out ballots to military personnel and Arizonans living overseas.
June 22 is the final day to register to vote in time for the primary.
And June 24 is when early in-person voting begins and mail-in ballots are sent for all voters who want them.
How do I register to vote in Arizona?
If you have an Arizona driver’s license or state ID issued by the state’s Motor Vehicle Division, you can register to vote online from the MVD’s voter-registration web portal.
You can also register with a paper voter registration form. You can return the form to your county recorder by mail or drop it off.
If you register with a paper form, you’ll see a section of the form that requires proof of citizenship. This applies to non-federal races.
If you don’t submit proof of citizenship documents, you will only be allowed to vote in congressional and presidential races and not in state or local contests.
To change that, you must update your voter registration to include a photocopy of one of these documents:
• Your Arizona driver’s license.
• Your Arizona non-operating identification card.
• Your birth certificate.
• The photo identification page of your U.S. passport or passport card.
• Your naturalization documents.
• Your alien registration number.
• Your U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs or tribal identification card.
Can the homeless vote?
Yes, but they need to register in advance and identify where they can be reached.
This includes options for homeless shelters, a general delivery postal address or the county courthouse where they reside. The form for this type of registration is found here.
Can I register in person?
Yes, you can register in person at your county recorder’s office.
Contact the office directly for information on hours and locations.
How do I check my voter registration status?
To check your registration status, visit the Secretary of State’s website and click on “Search Voter Registration Status.”
You’ll provide your last name, date of birth and an identification method. There are three types of identification options: your driver’s license or ID number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or your tribal ID number.
You’ll find information on your voting registration, the appropriate voting jurisdictions you reside in and your voting history.
How do I update my voter registration information?
To update your voter registration information, go to ServiceArizona, choose between English or Spanish and follow the on-screen instructions.
How do I get my ballot mailed to me?
When registering to vote or updating your registration information, opt for the Active Early Voting List.
If you’re on that list, you will receive ballots in the mail for every eligible election.
This feature was previously known as the Permanent Early Voting List, but state lawmakers changed it in 2021 to allow a voter to be removed from the list under certain circumstances.
You can now be booted off if you don’t cast an early ballot in at least one candidate election over the course of two consecutive federal election cycles and fail to respond to an official notice from the Elections Department.
Even if you’re removed from the list, you will remain registered to vote and can sign up for it again at any time. Most Maricopa County voters are on the early voting list.
How much postage is needed for mail-in voting?
None.
Drop your completed ballot in the proper — signed and dated — envelope and the postage is already covered. Remember, ballots must be received by Election Day. The last day to mail ballots is July 14. After that, you can drop off your mail-in ballot with your county election offices.
Can independent voters cast a ballot in the primary?
Yes.
Those who aren’t registered with any party can vote in a primary. If you want to receive a ballot by mail, you must make a ballot choice through their county recorder’s office by May 27.
You can also choose a ballot in person during early voting or on Election Day for the primary.
Independents can request a Republican or Democratic ballot in one of four ways:
By mail: Independents on the early voting list should have received a notice in the mail from their county recorder. Return that notice with your choice of ballot selected.
By email: Reach out to your county recorder’s office to indicate your ballot preference.
By phone: Call your county recorder’s office to tell them your ballot selection.
What if I lose or damage my early ballot?
You can get a replacement ballot sent to you, but there are strict deadlines to do so.
Contact your county recorder’s office directly. Requests must be made by July 10.
You always have the option of voting in person, either during the early voting period or on Election Day.
How do I find my polling location?
Check your county recorder’s website. You can find that information on the Arizona Secretary of State's Arizona Voter Information Portal.
Polling places across the state will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 21.
What do I need to bring to vote in person?
Remember to bring identification to the polls. You must show it to vote, unless you are dropping off an early ballot in a signed affidavit envelope.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
• Your valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Your valid Arizona 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.
What if I’m out of town during voting?
You can request a one-time early ballot be sent to a temporary mailing address by reaching out to your county recorder.
You will need to provide your full name, residence, temporary mailing address and date of birth for verification purposes.
Even if you have a forwarding address on file at the post office, you’ll want to put in a request. Arizona law does not allow official election materials, like ballots, to be forwarded by the Postal Service.
How can I track my ballot?
Arizona voters can track their ballots via BallotTrax.
Where can I find Arizona election results?
For election results, check the Arizona Secretary of State’s website and your county elections website.
Can felons vote?
Maybe.
Those convicted of felonies lose certain civil rights during their punishment, including periods of probation or parole. This includes the right to vote.
Arizona treats offenders differently based on the number of felony convictions they have. Those convicted of a single felony — not multiple felonies from a single case — can regain the right to vote after completing their sentence. This means they have also finished any probation or parole and paid all restitution.
Those with multiple felony convictions can also get the right to vote, but they need special permission from the sentencing court and may need to wait at least two years to ask.
For a one-time felon, if their crime happened in Arizona, they are automatically eligible to vote after completing their sentence, including probation or parole and if they have paid all restitution to victims. All they need to do is register to vote through the usual process.
If that single crime happened outside Arizona, they must file an application for restoring voting rights with an Arizona court. This application must be granted if they have completed their sentence, including probation or parole and if they’ve paid all restitution to victims.
Once that application is granted, they can register to vote through the usual process.
Those with multiple felony convictions are barred from voting. They can, however, petition to regain their voting rights through the court that sentenced them in the first place or through a pardon.
If they didn’t go to prison for their offenses, they can ask the court for permission to vote after completing their sentence, including probation or parole and after paying all restitution to victims.
If they spent time behind bars for multiple felony convictions, they have to wait at least two years after completing their sentence. Again, that includes probation, parole and any restitution to victims.
