Maricopa County Gears Up for November’s Two-Page Ballot Showdown

For the first time in nearly two decades, Maricopa County voters will face a two-page ballot this November. This decision, announced by election officials, will apply to all voters—both those casting early mail-in ballots and those who vote on Election Day.

The upcoming ballot will feature an impressive average of 79 contests, ranging from the presidential election to local school board positions and state legislature seats. The last instance of a two-page ballot in Arizona was in 2006, highlighting the significance of this change.

Adrian Borunda, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Elections Department, emphasized the importance of preparation for voters. They can visit BeBallotReady.Vote to access sample ballots, which will be made available in the coming weeks. Moreover, voters have options for early voting and can request mail-in ballots up until October 25, alleviating potential Election Day lines.

Borunda acknowledged the phenomenon of “voter fatigue,” noting that a longer ballot may overwhelm some voters. “We encourage early voting to allow people to take their time,” he stated. This approach aims to maintain voter engagement and participation.

Important dates to remember include the voter registration deadline of October 7 and the start of early voting just two days after. The county anticipates a surge in turnout due to the presidential election, with Borunda assuring that previous midterm issues will not be repeated. Last year, Maricopa faced criticism due to problems with ballot printers at 70 polling places, leading to confusion and long waits.

In response, the county has replaced the faulty printers and thoroughly tested its election equipment to ensure it can handle two-page ballots. Should any problems arise, voters can use the ‘Door #3’ option for ballot tabulation, ensuring that every vote is counted.

However, the use of two-page ballots is likely to slow down the tabulation process, a concern for many Arizona voters eagerly awaiting election results. Additionally, measuring voter turnout could become complicated, as it is traditionally based on one-page ballots, and some voters may return only a single page.

The length of this year’s ballot can largely be attributed to a host of proposed statutory and state constitutional amendments being introduced to the voters. Republican lawmakers have forwarded 11 legislative referrals, marking the largest number since 1984. Among these measures are proposals to restrict ranked-choice voting and grant police officers additional powers related to immigration enforcement. Conversely, citizen initiatives for abortion protections and open primaries were also placed on the ballot but the latter is still undergoing a legal review regarding its signature validity.