Detailed Voter Info

1. DO I NEED TO DECLARE A PARTY PREFERENCE ON MY VOTER REGISTRATION FORM?

You do not need to declare a Party Preference. By not indicating a party preference, your voter registration record and voter identification card will indicate “Party Not Designated” (PND) or Other (OTH).

Arizona recognizes the following political parties for representation on ballots:

  • Democratic (DEM)
  • Republican (REP)
  • Libertarian (LIB)
  • Arizona Green Party
  • No Labels (NOL) – Currently in dispute as “Independent Party”


The Independent (IND) political party is currently being litigated as it could be confusing to Arizona voters. See more information on this here.

2. WHAT IS THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

29 Days before election day, unless that day is a federal holiday or weekend (non-business day), then it is the day after.

3. HOW CAN I VERIFY IF I’M REGISTERED TO VOTE?

You may call the Maricopa County Recorder’s office at 602-506-3535 to confirm if you are registered to vote. You will be asked questions to verify your personal information. This ensures that your confidential information will not be shared with someone other than yourself. You may also verify your registration online.

4. CAN I VOTE IN A PRIMARY ELECTION IF I AM REGISTERED AS A PARTY NOT DESIGNATED (PND)?

Yes, Arizona is an “Open Primary” state. Those voters registered with no party preference (PND) may vote for candidates of recognized parties in a Primary Election. Libertarians have their separate ballot and can only vote a Libertarian Ballot. Please note that the impact of being registered in the newly created Independent party will likely be to restrict your primary vote to that of Independent party candidates. Many issues around the Independent party are under litigation.

If you are on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) and not a member of a recognized party, you will receive a notice from the Pinal County Recorder. 90 days prior to a Primary Election,  asking which recognized party ballot you want to be mailed to you. You must respond to the notice, or you will not receive a ballot. 

If you are not on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL),  you will be asked which recognized party ballot you would like to receive when you vote at the poll.

You must choose a party ballot in a Primary Election.

Exception: The Presidential Preference Election (PPE) is held in either February or March in the year that the President of the United States is elected. The PPE is solely for voters registered within a specific political party to specify their preference for a candidate of their political party for the Office of President. 
– Only voters registered with the participating parties can vote in the PPE.
– Participating parties will be determined closer to the election.

5. WHAT TYPE OF BALLOT WILL I RECEIVE ONCE I’M REGISTERED TO VOTE?

Full Ballot: A voter registrant who provides documentary proof of citizenship with their voter registration application will receive a Full Ballot. A Full Ballot is a ballot that lists all candidates and ballot measures for local, county, state, and federal elections.

Acceptable Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-166(F)
*All copies must be VALID and legible

  • Arizona Real ID Driver’s License 
  • Arizona Real ID Non-Operator’s Identification Card
  • Enhanced Driver’s License from another state
  • U.S. Birth Certificate
  • Pertinent pages of U.S. Passport Card
  • Naturalization Certificate or Certificate Number
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Treaty, or Tribal Enrollment Card Number

How to Provide DPOC:

In person:

  • Take it to your local Maricopa County Recorder’s Office.
  • A Certified Election Official will make a copy of your DPOC, update your voter registration record, and return the original copy to you.

Mail: 

  • Send paperwork to:
    Maricopa County Recorder’s Office
    Attn: Voter Registration
    301 W Jefferson St, Suite 705
    Phoenix, Arizona 85003

Email: 


Federal Ballot: A voter registrant who has not provided documentary proof of citizenship will receive a Federal Ballot, which consists of federal candidates and measures only.

Note: A voter registrant may provide acceptable documentary proof of citizenship by 5 pm on the Thursday before any election to be eligible to receive a Full Ballot and vote in all elections.

More information can be at the Maricopa County Elections website.

6. WHERE DO I GO VOTE ONCE I’VE REGISTERED?

Your precinct is listed on your voter identification card. Polling place locations can be found online on the Maricopa County Elections website. 

7. WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY VOTER REGISTRATION CARD?

You should receive your voter identification card within 4 to 6 weeks after the Voter Registration Office receives your voter registration form. You may call Maricopa County at 602-506-1511, if you have not received a voter identification card within that time frame, or would like to request a new card.

8. HOW DO I CHECK MY VOTER REGISTRATION?

You can check your voter registration status at the Maricopa County Elections website.

9. HOW DO I CHANGE MY ADDRESS, PARTY AFFILIATION, ETC. ON THE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS?

You will need to complete a new voter registration form, which can be obtained from most libraries, city, county, and state offices, or register online. 

10. WHAT IDENTIFICATION DO I NEED AT THE POLLS?

ID needed. 

11. CAN I VOTE WITHOUT GOING TO THE POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY?

Yes, if you are registered to vote in Maricopa County within 29 days prior to an election, you can request an early ballot to be mailed to you. The early ballot must be received in the Recorder’s Office prior to 7 pm on Election Day for it to be counted.  More information on requesting a ballot can be found here.

12. WHERE CAN I VOTE EARLY?

Early voting locations can be found through the Maricopa Elections site.

13. I WAS MADE TO VOTE A PROVISIONAL BALLOT AT THE POLL. WHAT IS A PROVISIONAL BALLOT?

A Provisional Ballot is completed by a voter when any one of the following issues apply:

  • Insufficient or no identification presented at the polling place.
  • The voter’s name was not found in the poll roster.
  • The poll roster indicates that the voter requested a ballot by mail.
  • The voter has changed their name without updating their voter registration.
  •  Voter moved to a new address within the county but did not update their voter registration.

More details on provisional ballots can be found here.  

Based on the information provided, the Recorder’s Office determines if a Provisional Ballot can be counted.

14. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ON THE ACTIVE EARLY VOTING LIST?

A voter may complete a request to be placed on the Active Early Voting List which allows a voter to automatically receive an early ballot in the mail for any election in which they are eligible to vote. There is no need to contact the Recorder’s Office to request an early ballot. The mailing address must be within the state of Arizona.

15. WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY EARLY BALLOT?

Early Ballots are mailed 27 days before the election to those voters on the Active Early Ballot List (AEVL) and to those that requested an Early Ballot by mail, phone, website, or in person prior to the 27 days. Early ballots requested after the 27 days prior to election are mailed to the voter within 48 hours after receipt of the request.

16. HOW DO I REQUEST A BALLOT BE MAILED TO ME?

Go to the Arizona Voter Information Portal – request a ballot by mail.

17. CAN I HAVE MY BALLOT MAILED ELSEWHERE, OTHER THAN MY MAILING ADDRESS?

Yes, call 602-506-1511. If you have moved visit AZMVDNow.gov to update your voter record permanently.

18. DOES IT COST ME ANYTHING TO RETURN MY VOTED BALLOT BY MAIL?

No. Postage is pre-paid.

19. WHERE CAN I DROP OFF MY BALLOT?

Go to the Maricopa County Elections site.

20. WHAT IF I’M UNABLE TO VOTE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE?

A range of assistance services are available to ensure equal access to all voters. See the Maricopa County Elections site.

21. WHAT IF I’M IN THE MILITARY OR WILL BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON ELECTION DAY?

Visit the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Portal of the Arizona Voter Information Portal. 

22. HOW DO I CHECK THE STATUS OF MY BALLOT?

Login to the Maricopa County Elections voter dashboard. 

23. WHAT’S ON MY BALLOT?

Check the Maricopa County Elections site. 

24. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ON THE ACTIVE EARLY VOTING LIST?

A voter may complete a request to be placed on the Active Early Voting List which allows a voter to automatically receive an early ballot in the mail for any election in which they are eligible to vote. There is no need to contact the Recorder’s Office to request an early ballot. The mailing address must be within the state of Arizona.

25. MANY MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED –

Sections of the Maricopa County Elections contain a wealth of additional information on: