Sample ballot error costs county $20K so far; it's time to mail your early ballot

The error in sample ballots the county Elections Department sent earlier this month caused confusion and frustration among some voters due to an incorrect date being listed for the primaries.

The correct July 30 primary date was printed on the title page of sample ballots sent out by the department, but an insert included in the sample ballots, which listed county voting centers, had the incorrect date of Aug. 30 printed on it, said Constance Hargrove, director of the Pima County Elections Department.

Last Tuesday, July 16, the department mailed postcards with corrected information to households that received a sample ballot, more than 135,000 in total, according to a memorandum Hargrove sent to Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher.

Hargrove said the county has not been billed for the printing of the postcards yet, but postage for the postcards cost the county about $20,000, she said.

The majority of voters should have already received these postcards, Hargrove said Monday. If a voter has not received a postcard and thinks they should have, or if they have any questions about the July 30 primary, Hargrove said to reach out to the Elections Department at (520) 724-6830.

In a July 17 memo to Lesher, Hargrove said the office will employ a six-step plan going forward “to avoid any future errors,” which will include added proofing and reviews by multiple individuals within the Elections Department and the county Communications Office.

Important election dates, information

Tuesday, July 23, is the “recommended deadline” to mail back early ballots, the Pima County Recorder’s Office says.

Friday, July 26, is the last day in-person early voting will be held.

July 1 was the last day for Arizona voters to register for the primaries; early ballots were sent out on July 3, and early voting began that day.

Emergency voting is available on July 27 and July 29 at all but one of the 18 ballot drop-off locations across the county; information on those locations and available times can be found at www.recorder.pima.gov/earlyvotingsites

The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved more than 120 voting centers for this year’s primary and general elections; a list of those locations can be found by visiting www.pima.vote. Click the “Voting Locations” tab and select “Election Day Vote Centers” to find an interactive map.

For information on the July 30 primary, including early voting and ballot drop-off sites, as well as day-of voting center locations, the county says to visit www.pima.vote

Primaries galore

Three seats on the county Board of Supervisors have primary election races. Districts 1 and 2 have a Democratic and Republican primary, respectively. The open seat for District 3’s supervisor will feature a four-candidate Democratic primary; overall, six candidates have filed to run for the District 3 seat.

A Democratic primary between Pima County Attorney Laura Conover and challenger Mike Jette will decide who the county’s top prosecutor will be, as there are no candidates running in the Nov. 5 general election.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is facing a Democratic primary challenge from Sanford “Sandy” Rosenthal. The Pima County sheriff’s race also features a three-candidate Republican primary.

County voters are also casting ballots for federal and state posts, including a GOP primary rematch between Vince Leach and Justine Wadsack in the state Senate race in Legislative District 17.