Arizona election officials are cautioning voters about potential delays at polling places and the possibility of vote-counting machines jamming due to a longer, multipage ballot being used in the upcoming election. Most voters in Arizona will receive a two-page ballot, a significant change as ballots in Maricopa County, including Phoenix, have not been longer than a single page for nearly twenty years.
Nine out of the state’s 15 counties are opting for newly designed 17-inch paper ballots, which will include an average of 79 contests for various local, state, and federal offices, as well as statewide ballot propositions. Despite other states routinely using multipage ballots, any change in Arizona’s voting procedures tends to attract legal challenges and fuel election conspiracy theories.
Arizona has been a focal point for election misinformation since Donald Trump’s close defeat to Joe Biden in 2020. The state’s public officials have faced criticism for denying the election results. The shift to a multipage ballot, the first since 2006, has prompted election officials to launch educational campaigns before early voting begins.
Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett has emphasized the need for voter preparedness, with a record 246 vote centers and 8,000 voting booths being made available for the expected 2.1 million voters. Voters are encouraged to research candidates and ballot measures in advance to expedite the voting process.
The longer ballot has raised concerns that it may discourage some voters, but others like Ahmad Tamini, a first-time independent voter, are undeterred. However, the complexity of the ballot could lead to longer lines and potential delays on Election Day. Officials in Coconino County, northern Arizona, are also advising voters to plan ahead for the possibility of longer waiting times.
Arizona election officials anticipate over a million early mail-in votes and between 625,000 and 730,000 ballots to be dropped off on Election Day, with the rest voting in person. Jarrett highlighted that completing the ballot may take between nine and 13 minutes for most voters, possibly extending to two hours for some. Additionally, concerns have been raised about vote tabulation machines potentially jamming due to the new ballots, prompting extra training for poll workers to address any issues promptly and reassure voters.
