Politics
Maricopa County begins processing more than 220,000 ballots ahead of Nov. 3 election
Election workers are separating ballots from voter envelopes and feeding them into tabulation machines as more votes arrive. County officials say bipartisan oversight and a public livestream are intended to help residents understand the process.
Maricopa County election workers had more than 220,000 ballots ready for tabulation as of Oct. 21, with additional ballots arriving each day ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, county officials said.
At the county election office in downtown Phoenix, workers open ballot envelopes and separate them from the ballots to protect voter confidentiality. The ballots are then run through tabulation machines.
Jennifer Liewer, a deputy director of elections, said representatives from both major parties oversee many parts of the process. The county also makes portions of the work available through a public livestream.
Liewer said residents need accurate information about election procedures to discuss them with others and online, and that public confidence in the system is important.
In Mesa, the county has three ballot drop-off locations. The Maricopa County Justice Center on Javelina Avenue is the city’s only drop-off site open 24 hours a day. On Election Day, 22 voting locations are scheduled to open in Mesa.
Voters interviewed outside the justice center said election security and fairness were important to them. County officials have emphasized oversight and visibility as ballot processing continues before Election Day.