The dos and don’ts of mail-in voting in Arizona

You can sign up for the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) to receive all ballots by mail for future elections. 

Voting by mail in Arizona is fortunately very easy. 

All registered voters in our state have the right to vote by mail—and you don’t have to provide a reason or prove that you’ll be out of town. Simply preferring to vote by mail is reason enough.

First, make sure you’re registered to vote and all of your information is up-to-date. You can do that online here.  

RELATED: How to register to vote 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 for the Nov. 5 general election, 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, you can sign up for the AEVL using this online form.
  • Alternatively, you can 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.
• 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. You must sign up for your one-time ballot-by-mail by Oct. 25.

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

To submit your completed mail-in ballot, return it by mail to your local county recorder’s office or place it in a designated dropbox. 

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. 

Ballots must be received by the county recorder’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Here are some helpful tips for voting by mail:

Do

• Be aware of deadlines and give yourself plenty of time to meet them so you don’t miss out on voting by mail. You must be registered to vote by Oct. 7, you must sign up to vote by mail by Oct. 25, and your ballot must be received back at the county recorder’s office by Nov. 5. 
• Fill out your ballot and put it back in the mail as soon as you receive it. It’s very easy to throw it to the side as a thing to do later and not remember until just before Election Day. 
• Sign up for text alerts if your county offers them. You can be notified when your ballot is received so you have a peace of mind that your vote was counted! You can also check the status of your ballot here. 
• Share this information with anyone who may be interested in voting by mail—some people aren’t aware it’s an option. 

Don’t 

• Don’t panic if you don’t sign up for a ballot by mail in time. If voting in person is an option for you, you can still vote early in person or on Election Day. 
• Don’t panic if you hold on to your ballot too long. If you’re worried it might not make it in the mail to the county recorder’s office on time, you can return it to any polling center or drop box by 7 p.m. on Election Day. And even if you received a ballot by mail, you can still vote in person. 
• Don’t forget when returning your ballot by mail to sign the envelope and write your phone number and the date in the boxes provided. Election workers verify mail-in ballots using your signature, and they will contact you by phone if there are problems with that process.

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.