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Voting in Arizona isn't easy -- the state has some of the biggest obstacles to voting in the country. Here's what you need to know if you want to vote in Arizona in 2012:
DO I NEED ID TO VOTE?
Yes. Voters are required to show proof of identity at the polling place before receiving a ballot. In all cases, an identification is "valid" unless it can be determined on its face that it has expired. You have to show identification that:
- Bears your name, address and photograph (See List 1), or
- Two different forms of identification that bear your name and address (See List 2), or
- One form of acceptable photo identification with one form of non-photo identification that bears your name and address (See List 3).
List 1 -- Acceptable forms of identification with photograph, name and address:
- Valid Arizona driver license;
- Valid Arizona non-operating identification license;
- Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification; and
- Valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued identification.
List 2 -- Acceptable forms of identification without a photograph that bear your name and address (two required):
- Utility bill of the voter that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election. A utility bill may be for electricity, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cellular phone or cable television;
- Bank or credit union statement that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election;
- Valid Arizona vehicle registration;
- Indian census card;
- Property tax statement of the voter's residence;
- Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal ID;
- Arizona vehicle insurance card;
- Recorder's certificate;
- Valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued identification, including a voter registration card issued by the county recorder; and
- Any mailing to the voter marked "Official Election Material."
List 3 -- Acceptable forms of identification, one identification with name and photo of the voter accompanied by one non-photo identification with name and address:
- Any valid photo identification from List 1 in which the address does not reasonably match the precinct register accompanied by a non-photo identification from List 2 in which the address does reasonably match the precinct register;
- U.S. passport without address and one valid item from List 2; and
- U.S. military identification without address and one valid item from List 2.
WHERE CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE?
Online: Service Arizona EZ Voter Registration at: https://servicearizona.com/webapp/evoter/selectLanguage
Note: To use this link you must have an Arizona driver license and/or an Arizona non-operating identification card issued by the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) on or after Oct. 1, 1996. Upon successful completion of the online EZ voter registration, you will receive a confirmation number. The confirmation is your receipt indicating the information you entered has been accepted and changed.
Print a Form: You may obtain a printable form online at: http://www.azsos.gov/election/forms/voterregistrationform.pdf
Fill in the form, print it, sign and date it, affix the proper postage and mail the form to the county recorder of the county in which you are a legal resident.
By Mail: You may request an Arizona voter registration form from the county recorder in the county in which you are a legal resident.
In Person: You may visit the county recorder in the county in which you are a legal resident and complete an Arizona voter registration form.
- To be eligible for an election, you must register to vote at least 29 days before the election.
- You can mail or hand-deliver your completed form to your county recorder's office.
- If by mail, the form must be received by the county recorder no later than five days after the last day to register to vote in that election or be postmarked 29 days or more before an election and received by the county recorder by 7 pm on Election Day.
- Your county recorder's office will mail you a proof of registration within four to six weeks.
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT
If this is your first time registering to vote in Arizona or you have moved to another county in Arizona, your voter registration form also must include proof of citizenship or the form will be rejected. If you have an Arizona driver's license or non-operating identification issued after Oct. 1, 1996, write the number in box 9 on the front of the Arizona voter registration form:
http://www.azsos.gov/election/forms/voterregistrationform.pdf. This will serve as proof of citizenship and no additional documents are needed. If not, you must attach proof of citizenship to the form. Only one acceptable form of proof is needed to register to vote.
The following is a list of acceptable documents to establish your citizenship:
- A legible photocopy of a birth certificate that verifies citizenship and supporting legal documentation (i.e., marriage certificate) if the name on the birth certificate is not the same as your current legal name;
- A legible photocopy of the pertinent pages of your passport;
- Presentation to the county recorder of U.S. naturalization documents or fill in your Alien Registration number in box 11;
- Your Indian Census number, Bureau of Indian
- Affairs card number, Tribal Treaty card number or Tribal Enrollment number in box 10; or
- A legible photocopy of your Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood or Tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth.
If you are registered in Arizona and use the registration form because you move within a county, change your name or change your political party affiliation, you do not need to provide photocopies of proof of citizenship. If you move to a different Arizona county, you will need to provide proof of citizenship.
VOTING EARLY AND VOTING BY MAIL
Early ballots may be requested from the county recorder of your county of residence.
Any voter may ask to be included on the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to automatically receive an early ballot for all elections in which he or she is eligible to participate. To be on the list, the address where you receive mail must be in Arizona.
- Permanent Early Voting List: If you are on the Permanent Early Voting List, an early ballot will be sent automatically to the address your county recorder has on file.
Check to see if you are on the Permanent Early Voting List by visiting https://voter.azsos.gov.
If you are NOT on the Permanent Early Voting List and would like to be on it, please contact your county recorder.
Election Mail Cannot Be Forwarded: If you are on the Permanent Early Voting List and wish to receive your early ballot at an address different than your regular mailing address, contact your county recorder to request your early ballot be sent to the different address.
One-Time Early Ballot Request: If you are NOT on the Permanent Early Voting List and would like to request a one-time early ballot from your county recorder, you may do so by telephone, mail or fax. Online early ballot requests also are available in certain counties. When contacting your county recorder to obtain an early ballot, make sure to include:
- Your name and address as registered;
- Date of birth and state or country of birth;
- The election for which the ballot is requested;
- Address where you are temporarily residing (if applicable);
- Your signature (signatures are required for all early ballot requests except when requesting online).
To find your polling place, check on your registration or find out your provisional ballot status, go to: https://voter.azsos.gov/.
For more information on voting, call the Arizona Office of the Secretary of State at (602) 542-8683.