160K Ballots Pending in Pima County: Tight Races Hang in the Balance

As of the day after Election Day, Pima County reports a backlog of over 160,000 uncounted ballots. The exact numbers fluctuate as officials continue their work, but the tally is still incomplete.

Following a count of more than 40,000 in-person ballots cast on Election Day, officials now face a significant number of early ballots submitted at voting centers, which are pending signature verification by the County Recorder’s Office. Currently, the uncounted total stands at 167,700, comprised mainly of 75,000 early ballots, approximately 7,600 provisional ballots, and around 84,000 early ballots that still require counting. While most verified ballots tend to be valid, not all will ultimately be included in the final tally.

The ongoing uncertainty leaves numerous races without clear victors. In the Congressional District 6 race, Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel initially led Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani by over 4,000 votes. However, with the inclusion of day-of votes, Ciscomani surged ahead, now leading by 417 votes. Similarly, in the race for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 4, Democratic challenger Vanessa Bechtol lost her earlier lead to Republican incumbent Steve Christy, now trailing by 1,170 votes. Such close contests could impact the balance of power within the Arizona Legislature, where Republicans enjoy a slim two-seat advantage.

The count remains too tight to declare any winners confidently, even in races where leads appear substantial. For instance, incumbent Supervisor Rex Scott holds a lead of nearly 10,000 votes against his GOP opponent, Steve Spain, yet has refrained from declaring himself the winner due to the uncertainty surrounding the remaining votes.

The final tally remains dependent on ballots cast across 58 voting centers, many of which were delivered late, with some polling locations staying open until after 9 p.m. to accommodate voters still in line. Additionally, a new state law mandates that election workers count all early ballots dropped off at these centers, contributing to the delays. Pima County Election Director Constance Hargrove, who paused the counting process at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, is set to resume counting at 10 a.m. today, continuing the crucial task of determining the outcomes of these pivotal races.