VOTER INFORMATION
WHAT TO BRING TO THE POLLS, VOTER REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
QUICK LINKS
WHAT TO BRING TO THE POLLS
When you arrive to vote at the polls on Election Day you will announce your name and place of residence to the election official and present one form of identification from List #1 or two different forms of identification from List #2 or 3. (A.R.S. § 16-579(A)).
Valid identification is also required prior to receiving a ballot at any in-person early voting location or emergency vote center or from a special election board. (A.R.S. § 16-542; § 16-549)
Please note: Members of federally-recognized tribes are not required to have an address or photo on their tribal identification in order to cast a provisional ballot.
List #1 - Sufficient Photo ID including name and address (One Required)
Valid Arizona driver license
Valid Arizona non-operating identification card
Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
Valid United States federal, state, or local government-issued identification
List #2 - Sufficient ID without a photograph that bears the name and address (Two Required)
Utility bill of the elector that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election. A utility bill may be for electric, 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 elector's residence
Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
Arizona vehicle insurance card
Recorder's Certificate
Valid United States federal, state, or local government-issued identification, including a voter registration card issued by the County Recorder
Any mailing to the elector marked “Official Election Material”
List #3 - Mix & Match from Lists #1 & #2 (Two Required)
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
U.S. Military identification without address and one valid item from List 2
Voters with Disabilities
Accessible Polling Places: All polling locations and vote centers have been chosen with special needs voters in mind. Each location will provide handicap parking and be able to accommodate individuals in wheelchairs, as well as, individuals with visual or hearing impairments. Oftentimes a temporary modification will be made to the polling location providing easier accessibility for the voter.
Accessible Voting Systems: All polling locations and vote centers must have an accessible voting device for use by voters with disabilities. In addition to the accessible voting devices, each poling location will have magnifying instruments, large print versions of the publicity pamphlets and trained poll workers who are ready to assist you. View the accessible voting device that will be used in your county (PDF).
Curbside Voting: Voters who are unable to enter the polling location or voting center may ask that a ballot be brought to them by an election poll worker.
Permanent Early Voting: Voters who have a permanent physical disability, just like any other eligible voter, may request to be placed on the Active Early Voter List (AEVL). This will ensure that they will be mailed a ballot for each election that they are eligible for and allows them to vote from the comfort and convenience of their own home.
Assistance Completing Election Materials: If an individual is unable to sign or fully complete election materials such as a voter registration form, early ballot, and early ballot affidavit, they may be assisted by an individual who is willing to help at that person's direction. This also includes receiving assistance at the polling place by poll workers of two different parties, or an individual the voter with a disability chooses.
HAVA Hotline: The Arizona Center for Disability Law will run a hotline to address any election concerns for persons with disabilities. The ACDL also will file Help America Vote Act (HAVA) complaints.
Call: 602-274-6287 or 1-800-927-2260; 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM on Election Day
VOTER REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Registering to vote is the first step to participating in our democracy. The information provided here will help you get involved. The deadline to register to vote is 29 days before Election Day.
How to Register to Vote
Common Ways to Register to Vote
The three most common ways to register to vote are:
Registering electronically via the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Department (AZMVD). (A.R.S. § 16-112)Click here to visit ServiceArizona.com and register online.
Registering using the state voter registration form. (A.R.S. § 16-152)Click here to view the state paper form.
Registering using the National Mail Voter Registration Form prescribed by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (the "Federal Form"). (52 U.S.C. § 20505(a)(1); 52 U.S.C. § 20508(a)(2)) Click here to view the federal form.
* If you choose a paper form, you must print and mail it to your County Recorder's Office.
Military Members or Overseas
If you are a member of the military or are residing overseas, and consider Arizona your permanent residence, you can register by:
The Federal Postcard Application (the "FPCA"). Click here to view the FPCA. Use this to register to vote and receive a full ballot. A.R.S. § 16-103(B);52 U.S.C. § 20301(b)(2); 52 U.S.C. § 20302(a)(4); Executive Order 12642 (June 9, 1988).
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (the "FWAB"). Click here to view the FWAB. You may use this to register and cast your vote for Federal candidates simultaneously.
Paper Forms
Need a paper form to register? Our office can mail you a state or federal registration form. Email your request to elections@azsos.gov.
Need lots of forms for a large voter registration drive? Your County Recorder can help provide forms to government agencies, political parties, and private organizations. (A.R.S. § 16-151(A)) Contact your County Recorder's Office to get copies of state voter registration forms: County Election Info
Voter Registration Requirements
Who can register to vote? A person is qualified to register to vote in Arizona if the person:
Is a United States citizen;
Will be 18 years old by the date of the next general election;
Will have been an Arizona resident for at least 29 days prior to the next election;
Can write their name (or make their mark), unless prevented from doing so by physical disability;
Has not been convicted of treason or a felony, unless their civil rights have been restored; and
Has not been found mentally incapacitated by a court.
(A.R.S § 16-101)
Citizenship Requirement
Only U.S. citizens are eligible to register to vote.
U.S. citizenship must be sworn to when registering to vote.
Documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) is required to be registered as a "full-ballot" voter. A "full-ballot" voter is entitled to vote for all federal, state, county, and local races as well as state and local ballot measures for which the voter qualifies.
An eligible registrant who does not submit DPOC and whose U.S. citizenship cannot be verified via AZMVD records or other record in the statewide voter registration database is registered as a "federal-only" voter. A "federal-only" voter is eligible to vote solely in races for federal office in Arizona (including the Presidential Preference Election (PPE)).
Ariz. Const. Art. VII, § 2; A.R.S. § 16-101(A); 18 U.S.C. § 611(a).
Accepted Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC)
Accepted Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC)
Driver Licenses and Identification Cards
Arizona Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card Number
An Arizona driver license or non-driver identification card number (AZDL/ID#) issued by AZMVD after October 1, 1996 constitutes valid DPOC. To be deemed satisfactory:
(1) the AZDL/ID# must be verified against AZMVD records
(2) the verification must not return a result that indicates non-citizenship (i.e., an "F-type" license).
Voters with a valid AZDL/ID# may register online through www.ServiceArizona.com. Or may complete the appropriate box on the paper voter registration form.
Out-of-State Driver License or Identification Card- Photocopy Required
An out-of-state driver license or identification card may constitute satisfactory DPOC if it was issued by the state's driver license-issuing agency and indicates on the face of the license or card that the person provided proof of U.S. citizenship in that state.
Enhanced driver licenses or identification cards from other states issued in compliance with the Departments of State and Homeland Security's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative satisfy Arizona's DPOC requirement. These states display an American flag on the face of the license or card.
A photocopy of the license must be included if registering to vote by mail.
Birth Certificate- Photocopy Required
A registrant may submit a legible copy of the registrant's birth certificate from any U.S. state or territory as satisfactory DPOC. A.R.S § 16-166(F)(2).
For U.S. citizens born abroad, a "Certification of Report of Birth" or "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" issued by a consular officer from the U.S. Department of State is accepted. 22 U.S.C § 2705(2).
The registrant must supply supporting legal documentation (such as a marriage certificate or court-documented name change) if the name on the birth certificate is not the registrant's current legal name.
U.S. Passport- Photocopy Required
A registrant may submit a legible copy of the registrant's U.S. passport or passport card. A.R.S. § 16-166(F)(3).
The required pages of a U.S. passport to include contain the photo, passport number, name, nationality, date of birth, gender, place of birth, and signature (if applicable).
A U.S. passport card also may be accepted.
Citizenship and Immigration Documents
A registrant may present original naturalization documents to the County Recorder or submit (1) a legible copy of Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, or (2) Naturalization Certificate Number, Citizenship Certificate Number, or Alien Registration Number (also known as an "A-Number").
Tribal Identification Numbers and Documents
A registrant may submit a Tribal Enrollment Number, Indian Census Number, Bureau of Indian Affairs Card Number, or Tribal Treaty Card Number as satisfactory DPOC. A.R.S §16-166(F)(6). Complete the appropriate box on the paper form with the number provided.
A legible copy of the registrant's Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood or Tribal/Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth is satisfactory DPOC.
"Federal-Only" Voter Designation
U.S. citizenship must be sworn to when registering to vote. Only U.S. citizens may register to vote in Arizona.
If a registrant does not provide documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) with their registration application and/or it cannot be electronically acquired via AZMVD records or from the statewide voter registration database (and the registrant is not shown to have an F-Type license), a County Recorder must:
Designate the registrant as a "federal-only" voter; and
Send a letter to the registrant within 10 business days, informing the registrant that:
They have not satisfied the DPOC requirements; and
They must submit DPOC to become a "full-ballot" voter, and must provide DPOC by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before any given election in order to vote a "full-ballot" in that election; and
They will remain a "federal-only" voter until they submit valid DPOC to become a "full-ballot" voter.
In order to receive a "full-ballot" for a given election, the voter must provide DPOC to the County Recorder no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the upcoming Election Day.
If DPOC is given after that deadline, the voter will be registered for a "full-ballot" for future elections.
Residency Requirements
The voter registration deadline is 29 days before Election Day. You must be registered to vote at your current residence.
If you are out of town during the election
A registrant may be temporarily absent from the jurisdiction without losing their residency status, only if the registrant has an intent to return. A.R.S. § 16-103. You may contact your County Recorder directly to request a ballot by mail be sent to you. The request must be made at least 11 days before Election Day: County Election Info
If you move after the voter registration deadline
If you move within the same county during the 29-day period preceding the election, you will remain a qualified elector for the next election. You may update your voter registration at an in-person voting location, be aware you may be required to complete a provisional ballot.
If you move to a different county during the 29-day period preceding the election, you will remain a qualified elector at your former residence and must vote in the former county.
If you move to a different state during the 29-day period preceding the next election, you are no longer a qualified elector (and is therefore ineligible to vote) in Arizona. However, you retain the right to vote in Arizona for President of the United States (and no other races) during a Presidential election year. Requesting a presidential-only ballot requires the County Recorder to cancel the registrant's record "promptly" following the general election.
Exceptions to the 29-Day Residency Requirement
Military and Overseas Voters
Military and overseas registrants who are temporarily absent from the state may register and vote until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, despite not physically residing in Arizona during the 29-day period preceding the election. A.R.S. § 16-103(D).
This exception also applies to a U.S. citizen who has never resided in the United States but whose parent is registered in Arizona and is a qualified elector for the next election. 52 U.S.C. § 20310(5), A.R.S. § 16-103(E).
Please visit our Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Portal for more information.
Public Officers Posted in Different County
If a state employee or officer is posted to a duty station in a county other than the county from which they were appointed or elected, they (along with their spouse and dependents who reside in the household) remain qualified electors in the county of appointment or election, even if they physically reside in the county where the duty post is located. A.R.S. § 16-124.
Residency Requirements When Jurisdictional Boundaries Change
If jurisdictional boundaries change during the 29-day period preceding the next election, a registrant must have residency within the new boundaries of the new jurisdiction in order to vote in the next election.
Registration Deadline
The deadline to register to vote in 29 days before Election Day. A.R.S. § 16-120(A).
A registrant who registers to vote after the deadline will be eligible to vote in future elections. For example, a person who registers less than 29 days before the primary election is not eligible to vote in the primary election but is eligible to vote in the general election. See A.R.S. § 16-120(A).
If the 29-day registration deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the registration deadline is extended to the next business day for state government. A.R.S. § 16-120(B).
Date of Receipt of Voter Registrations
Voter Registration List Maintenance
Voter registration list maintenance is a fundamental component of our elections. Specific list maintenance practices are required by federal and state law. List maintenance occurs throughout the year and is primarily the responsibility of your County Recorder. County Recorders may not cancel voters without following these requirements.
Deceased Registrants
The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) provides the Arizona Secretary of State with a monthly file of deceased Arizona residents who passed away during the applicable period for review against the voter registration database. A.R.S § 16-165(D).
A County Recorder may also cancel a voter's record if the County Recorder determines that the registrant is deceased based on other reliable sources, including, but not limited to, death notices received by the County Recorder's office and an affidavit of death from the registrant's next of kin. A.R.S. § 16-165(A)(2).
A voter who passes away after casting a valid ballot is still entitled to have their ballot tabulated and votes counted.
Registrants Convicted of a Felony or Found Mentally Incapacitated
The Arizona Superior Courts and Maricopa County Superior Court of Arizona provide records to the Secretary of State's Office containing residents recently convicted of a felony or found mentally incapacitated in that jurisdiction.
The Arizona Secretary of State also receives additional felony conviction information from Arizona superior courts and U.S. Department of Justice, and additional mental incapacitation information from Arizona superior courts.
This information is sent to County Recorders for processing and final resolution.
Address Changes
A County Recorder may receive address change information in various ways: directly from the registrant, from the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) National Change of Address (NCOA) service, through returned mail from USPS, or from the Electronic Registration Information Center. A County Recorder may update (and in some cases cancel) a registration record following state and federal laws.
Returned Election Mail
If election mail is returned undeliverable, the County Recorder must send a follow-up notice to the registrant within 21 days. The notice must contain a voter registration form or an appropriate internet address through which the registrant can update their address. The notice also must inform the voter that if the voter does not submit a new voter registration form or update their address within 35 days, the registrant will be placed in "inactive" status. A.R.S. § 16-544(E).
If the voter does not submit a new voter registration form or otherwise update their address by the 35-day deadline, the County Recorder must change the registrant's status to "inactive." A.R.S. § 16-166(A).
If a voter is in "inactive" status, they can become active again by re-registering to vote or voting in-person. The voter should contact the County Recorder if they have any questions about their registration status: County Election Info
