Are you tired of all the political signs, TV ads, and texts swirling around us? Me too.

The good news is that it will be over next week, after voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (But ballots take time to count, so we likely won’t know all the winners right away!)

🗳️ If you’ve already sent in a ballot, great job! You’re one of the over half a million Arizonans, including me, who have already returned theirs. Forward this email to someone who hasn’t voted yet. 

🗳️ If you’re still hanging onto a ballot, or you didn’t get one in the mail, don’t worry—you still have plenty of time to vote. 

I’m sharing this special edition today to clear up any questions you may have about how to vote and what you’re voting on, and to make the process as easy as possible.

If you still have any questions after reading, let me know! I’ll do my best to help. 

Here’s what you need to know to make sure your ballot gets counted. 

If you already have a ballot

👉 It’s too late to mail it back. But as long as you take it to a dropbox or voting center by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, it’ll count. 

👉 Make sure you sign and date your ballot envelope, and include your phone number. Election workers confirm your identity by verifying the signature on your ballot. If there are any issues, they will call you to get it worked out. 

👉 If you want your early ballot to be counted faster, you can wait in line to drop it off at a voting center and show your ID. (This process is new this year.) If you skip the line and drop it off without doing that, it’ll go through the typical signature verification process. 

👉 If you want to make sure your ballot was received and counted, you can check its status or sign up for email or text alerts. 

If you’re voting in person

👉 Early in-person voting is available through tomorrow. Polls will reopen again on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m., you can still vote. 

👉 Make sure to bring your ID.

Gov. Katie Hobbs will face US Rep. Andy Biggs this November. (AP)

You can search for a sample ballot online to see exactly what you’re voting on this fall, but for now, here are some of the races to watch in Arizona. 

Democrat: Current Gov. Katie Hobbs

Republican: US Rep. Andy Biggs

The governor, the state’s top elected official, approves state budgets, issues executive orders, and signs or vetoes legislation. Hobbs has vetoed over 500 bills approved by Arizona’s Republican-majority Legislature since she took office in 2023. 

The candidates’ positions vary widely on issues like immigration, healthcare, and education. Read more about where they stand here. 

Democrat: Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz, former president of Glendale Community College

Republican: Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee

The superintendent oversees Arizona’s K-12 school system. Read about the candidates’ positions on school vouchers, free school meals, and more here. 

Democrat: Amish Shah, former state lawmaker and ER doctor

Republican: Jay Feely, former NFL kicker

Shah and Feely are running to represent Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, and parts of Phoenix, in the US House. This “toss-up” district is one of a handful across the US that could determine which party controls the House for the next two years. 

Learn about the candidates and what they support here. 

Democrat: JoAnna Mendoza, retired US Marine

Republican: US Rep. Juan Ciscomani

Mendoza and Ciscomani are running for US House in another competitive district, which includes Tucson, Sierra Vista, and Oro Valley. Check out their policy positions here. 

👉 The Arizona Corporation Commission flies under the radar but has a big impact—it sets water and electricity prices. Learn more here. 

👉 Arizonans have a lot of ballot propositions to decide on. Here’s a breakdown of what each one means, and how it got to the ballot in the first place. 

👉 Voters will decide if dozens of Arizona judges get to keep their jobs this fall. Here’s some info that can help guide your choices.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner with stories from Jessica Swarner, Sahara Sajjadi, and Robert Gundran. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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