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In preparation for mailing ballots for the November 4, 2020 General Election, Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez and her staff had a productive meeting with the Tucson Postmaster and staff from the Cherrybell U.S. Postal Service processing center. “We spoke with the Postmaster regarding ballot delivery to voters and voters mailing ballots back to the Recorder’s Office,” said Ms. Rodriguez. The Recorder and the U.S. Postal Service confirmed that both offices are ready to mail ballots for the General Election on October 7, 2020.
Ms. Rodriguez continued, “Regardless of what happens in other states, the local post office assured us that they will continue to provide the excellent delivery service as they have always done. We will continue to pick up ballots daily at the Cherrybell plant beginning October 13, 2020.” Usually, Recorder staff would begin daily pick-ups on Monday, October 12; however, the post office will be closed on that day for the Columbus Day Holiday.
“Because Pima County has been using ballot by mail for over two and a half decades, Pima County post offices know how to quickly process ballots by mail,” said Ms. Rodriguez. Over 75% of Pima County Voters are on the Permanent Early Voter List and receive their ballots in the mail.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020, is the recommended date for voters to mail back their ballots.
Voters may also drop off completed ballots at Early Voting Sites, which are open Wednesday, October 7 – Tuesday, November 2. Voters may drive up, bike up, or walk up for curbside ballot drop off at most sites Monday, October 26 – Tuesday, November 2, 2020. The complete list of sites with hours of operation is here: https://www.recorder.pima.gov/EarlyVotingSites. In addition, voters may drop off completed ballots at any polling place on Election Day.
Some voters may be out of town when the Recorder mails ballots. “By federal law, the U.S. Postal Service will not forward Official Election Mail, including ballots,” said Ms. Rodriguez. “Even if you have a forwarding request at your local post office, ballots will not be forwarded.” If voters will be out of town when ballots are mailed in October, they should go online to request that their ballot be mailed to a temporary address: https://www.recorder.pima.gov/BallotByMail. Select “I would like my ballot sent to a different address.” Voters may also call the Recorder’s Office at 520-724-4330, and request that their ballot be sent to their temporary address.
· Check your voter registration: https://www.recorder.pima.gov/VoterStats/VoterInfo
· Request a ballot by mail online: https://www.recorder.pima.gov/BallotByMail
· Request a ballot by mail by telephone: 520-724-4330
