As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary elections set for Aug 4 will begin early and Maricopa County officials have laid out plans that focus on the health and safety for both voters and poll workers.

According to AZ Family, the plans were approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on June 22  The plan includes 90-100 locations on election day, appropriate space for social distancing and extra sanitizing measures. Staffers and voters are all encouraged to wear masks. Before election day, polling locations will be open in phases, where 50-60 locations will be open for at least two weeks for evening and weekend voting to allow in-person voting for all communities.

The early, mail-in ballot, also has new measures in place and was approved by Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes.  The measures include increased access to voting by mail through Request.Maricopa.vote the online voting portal.  Extra safety protocols for the ballot processing have also been established since they expect more than 600,000 early ballots.  All staff and volunteers will require to wear masks and receive daily temperature screenings.

Important dates to remember:  July 24 is the last day to request a ballot in the mail.

July 25 will start the weekend voting extension and July 29 is the last day to mail back your ballot. Mail-in ballots can be dropped off at any polling station.