If you’re an Arizonan attending college in another state, here’s how you can still vote

All registered Arizona voters have the right to vote by mail—and you don’t have to prove that you’re out of town at your college.

If you’re an Arizonan attending college in another state and you’re wondering how to vote this Nov. 5, don’t worry—you’ve got options. 

One thing you can do is register to vote at your school address and vote in the state you’re in. 

But if you don’t want to change your registration—you can only be registered in one location—you can still cast an Arizona ballot. 

First, make sure your voter registration information is up-to-date well before Election Day. You can do this by going to Service Arizona and making sure the information like your address is current. You must be registered by Oct. 7 to vote in Arizona. 

If you will not be in the state to vote, you can request a ballot be mailed to where you are. Once you receive the ballot, you will have to fill it in and put it back in the mail so it is received in Arizona by Election Day. The postal service recommends putting your ballot in the mail at least seven days before the election, so get your ballot in the mail as soon as possible. Postage is prepaid, so you don’t need to add a stamp. 

How to sign up for a ballot by mail

All registered Arizona voters have the right to vote by mail—you don’t have to prove that you’re out of town at your college.

In Arizona, you can either sign up for the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) to receive all ballots by mail for future elections, or request a one-time ballot by mail. 

To register as a vote-by-mail or one-time absentee voter, you have several options: 

• AEVL applications can be submitted for both the AEVL and for one-time requests. If you have a valid Arizona ID, sign up for the AEVL using this online form. 

Alternatively, print and complete the AEVL request form and return it by mail, fax, or email to your local county recorder’s office. You must sign up by Oct. 25 to receive a ballot for the Nov. 5 election. 

• One-time applications: Request your one-time ballot-by-mail online by filling out this form. You can also call your local county recorder’s office and request a ballot-by-mail by providing your name, address, date of birth, and other identifying info. 

Another option is to fill out and return a printable request form or simply email your local county recorder’s office, then respond with requested personal information. For the general election, you must do this by Oct. 25. 

Don’t know who your local county recorder is? Find that info here. 

And, again, ballots must be received by the county recorder’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, so get them back in the mail as soon as you can.

Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.