Excitement Builds as Early Voting Kicks Off on UA Campus and in Oro Valley & Sahuarita

Early voting in Tucson has expanded, offering residents new options for casting their ballots ahead of the election on November 5. Starting this week, voters can head to three additional locations to vote in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until November 1. These locations include the Santa Cruz Room in the University of Arizona Student Union, the Oro Valley Library, and the La Villita Community Center in Sahuarita.

This election features a high-profile race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. Other significant contests include the U.S. Senate race between U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake, as well as numerous races for Congress, the Arizona Legislature, and local government positions. Voters will also weigh in on 13 statewide propositions and various local measures.

With an extensive ballot requiring a four-page, two-card system, election officials emphasized the importance of returning both cards to ensure accurate counting. “If somebody returns only one card, that’s what we have to count for that voter,” said Pima County Elections Director Constance Hargrove.

Additional earlier voting locations opened at Pima County Recorder’s Office branches and other sites, offering further options for registered voters. Those who have received mail-in ballots can drop them off at any voting site or the recorder’s East Side office during designated hours.

More early voting sites are scheduled to open on October 28, while emergency voting locations will be available on November 2 and 4. Voters wishing to request a mail-in ballot should do so by calling 520-724-4330 or visiting the Pima County Recorder’s Office website before the October 25 deadline.

It is crucial for voters to ensure that their completed ballots reach the Pima County Recorder’s Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. To avoid any issues, mailing early ballots is strongly encouraged by October 29. After this date, voters should plan to drop off their ballots at voting centers.

On November 5, Pima County will operate 126 voting centers across the region, anticipating significant turnout. County officials are preparing by increasing the number of voting booths and supplies available for voters. For comprehensive information about voting in Pima County, visit Pima.Vote.