Elections
1. When are the elections?
A little less than 4 months before an election, dates are posted on the Elections Calendar page.
2. When is the voter registration deadline?
29 Days before Election Day, unless that day falls on a federal holiday, then it is the day after.
3. What types of elections are there?
Primary/General Election
The regular countywide Primary and General Elections that contain Federal, State, County and Local offices are held in August/September* and November of the even numbered years (2018, 2020, and so on).
Local Standalone Elections
A local city, town, school or any other jurisdiction can hold special elections outside of the Primary/General in March, May or August/September and November of the odd numbered years (2017, 2019, and so on).
Presidential Preference Election;
As a standard, this election is held in March of a Presidential election year or on a date selected by the Governor through proclamation. The Presidential Preference Election is only for voters registered within a specific political party to designate their particular party’s candidate for the Office of President of the United States.
*The November General Election date always falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The August/September Primary Election date is calculated by counting back 10 Tuesdays from the November Election date. Because of this, there will be years when the Primary Election will be held in August instead of September.
4. How can I vote by mail?
For every election:
- Join the Permanent Early Voter List by filling out and sending in this form.
For just one election:
The deadline to request an early ballot is 11 days before Election Day.
If you miss this deadline, you can vote in-person at any Ballot Center location across the County. Ballot Centers are open all 27 days leading up to an Election and on Election Day.
5. Will my ballot be sent to my forwarding address on file with the Post Office?
No. All official election materials, such as ballots, are marked (as required by law) "Do Not Forward – Return Service Requested"
If the early ballot is returned to us indicating you are no longer at the residence address on file or that a forwarding order is on file, then this will begin the process of deactivating your voter registration record unless a “Temporarily Away” order is in place for your address.
Always make sure to update your voter registration record when you move.
6. How do I request to have a ballot mailed to a temporary mailing address?
You must submit a signed written request so that we can verify your signature against what we have on file to ensure that it is you asking to have your ballot redirected to an alternate address.
Your written request must include the following:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Residence Address
- Temporary Address
- Signature
- Note granting us permission to mail to temporary address.
You can email a scanned copy of this written request to evreq@risc.maricopa.gov, fax it to 480-360-3628 or mail it to:
Maricopa County Elections
Attn: Early Voting
510 S 3rd Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
7. Where can I find information on the ballot issues?
If the ballot issue or issues are for a City, Town or School District, then links to the various jurisdictional websites can be found on our Elections Calendar page.
If the ballot issue or issues are for a Statewide measure (example: Propositions), detailed information regarding those can be found on the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office website at www.azsos.gov.
In addition, a Publicity Pamphlet or Informational Pamphlet is mailed to each household containing a registered voter before a statewide election. The pamphlet contains any pro/con arguments filed on a given issue or issues.
8. How do I get onto the Permanent Early Voting List?
By filling out and sending in or dropping off this form to one of our offices.
9. Does it cost me anything to return my voted ballot by mail?
No, postage is pre-paid.
10. When does my early ballot need to be received in order to count?
Your early ballot must be received, not postmarked, by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Please make sure that you return your early ballot by mail well in advance of the deadline date to ensure that your vote is counted. We recommend you mail your ballot at least 6 days before Election Day.
11. Can someone else pick up or drop off my early ballot?
No. An early ballot can only be mailed directly to the voter who has made a request to vote an early ballot. This is to ensure that no other person has the opportunity to steal, alter or invalidate an early ballot.
Early ballots must be returned by the voter, a family member, household member or designated caregiver. (A.R.S. § 16-1005)
12. What happens when my early ballot is received?
When an early ballot is received through the mail, the unopened affidavit packet is scanned to acknowledge receipt and to capture the signature of the voter on the envelope.
The captured signature is used by trained staff to compare it to the signature we have on file from the given voter’s original registration form or forms.
If the signature matches, the ballot envelope is marked as a "Good Signature.”
All "Good Signature" affidavit packets are then sent to Citizen Boards who process these unopened packets to prepare them for tabulation. The Citizen Boards are made up of two board members of different political party affiliation. These Citizen Boards audit and ensure that the secrecy of the voter’s ballot is maintained.
If the packet is deemed to have a missing or non-matching signature, it is then sent for further review to a higher-level staff member who has been trained biannually in signature verification.
In the case of a missing signature, the unopened packet is sent back to the voter along with a letter explaining why it was returned and a postage paid envelope for the voter to send it back signed.
In the case of a non-matching signature, the voter is contacted by mail and/or by phone (if a phone number is listed on the voter’s record) to inform the voter that there are discrepancies with the signature we have on file in comparison to the one appearing on the ballot envelope
This process is done to safeguard the early voting process and protect the voter from possibly having had their ballot fraudulently misdirected and possibly voted and signed by someone other than the actual voter.
13. Do I need a special pen to mark my ballot?
A standard black ballpoint pen is sufficient. Do not use any other color ink or permanent ink. This may result in a false read by our ballot tabulation machines.
14. If I accidentally voted for too many candidates or left a blank does this invalidate my whole ballot?
No. It only invalidates that specific vote for that given office or measure. This is considered an “over-vote” so no vote will count for that office.
You are not required to cast a vote for all offices or issues. If you do not vote for a given office or issue, this is considered an “under-vote” and nothing will be counted for that specific vote.
15. If I ruined my mailed ballot, how do I get another one?
If you make a mistake in marking your ballot, do not try to correct it.
Call us at 602-506-1511. You do not need to return the spoiled ballot and can destroy the spoiled ballot. It is voided upon issuance of your new ballot. If you do not have enough time to wait for a new ballot in the mail, visit any Ballot Center location across the County to vote in-person. Ballot Centers are open all 27 days leading up to an Election and on Election Day.
16. What if I lost my green return envelope, what do I do?
If you turn the ballot in without the green envelope, it will not be counted. Call us at 602-506-1511 to request a new ballot and envelope.
If you do not have enough time to wait for a new ballot in the mail, visit any Ballot Center location across the County to vote in-person. Ballot Centers are open all 27 days leading up to an Election and on Election Day.
17. How can I check the status of my early ballot to see if it was received?
Visit the Early Voting Ballot Status Inquiry page. You can also call 602-506-1511 or you can opt into automatically receiving a “Ballot Status” text message by texting EV to MCVOTE (628683)
If not signed up for automatic text notifications, then please allow adequate time for the ballot to be received, verified and processed before inquiring on the return status. An average period to wait before inquiry, if locally mailed, is 5-6 business days to allow for receipt through the mail and completion of the signature verification process. After this time period, your early ballot status should be available.
18. Can I vote in-person at a Ballot Center on Election Day if I already requested or received an early ballot?
You can go to any Ballot Center location across the County to vote in-person on Election Day. You will be given a new ballot and your mailed ballot will be voided.
Also note that Ballot Centers are open 27 days leading up to an Election and on Election Day so you can go vote in-person starting at the 27th day up to and including Election Day.
19. What services are available for special-needs citizens who wish to vote?
Visit ADA Voter Assistance for more information.
20. Can I get assistance marking my ballot?
Yes. If you are unable to mark the ballot yourself, you can receive assistance from a person of your choice (at the Ballot Center or at home if voting an early ballot).
Each in-person voting location (Ballot Center) has a touch-screen and audio voting machine that allows for voters with disabilities to vote independently.
At the Ballot Center, if you prefer to have the Election’s Department directly assist you, two board members of different political party affiliations will then help.
If you prefer to vote early and would like the Election’s Department to physically and directly assist you, we can schedule to send out a Special Election Board team to help you with marking your ballot. These teams are made up of two individuals of different political party affiliations.
To schedule a Special Election Board to assist you:
- Call 602-506-1511 and they will collect your information so that a representative can contact you to make arrangements.
- Email your request to evreq@risc.maricopa.gov and indicate in the subject line the need for a Special Election Board to assist you. You will need to provide the following information: name, residence address, delivery address, date of birth and phone number so that we can contact you to schedule this assistance.
If your question has not been answered, please call us at (602) 506-1511.
Voter Registration
1. Who can register?
- A citizen of the United States of America.
- A resident of Arizona.
- An individual who is 18 Years of age or older before the next Statewide General Election.
- An individual who has not been convicted of a felony or treason. However, if an individual was convicted, they may file for restoration of their rights.
- An individual who has not been adjudicated an incapacitated person (A.R.S. § 14-5101)
2. How do you register to vote?
By registering online or filling out the voter registration form
3. When must you re-register to vote?
- After moving
- After a name change
- To update your political party
4. I can’t print and I don’t want to register online, where can I get a registration form?
- Forms are also available at any of our Maricopa County Elections office locations,
- A local City or Town Clerks office.
- Have one mailed to you by calling 602-506-1511 or 602-506-2348 (TDD) for the hearing impaired.
5. I lost my voter identification card. How can I get another?
- In person at one of our office locations
- Call us at 602-506-1511 to have one mailed to you.
- Visit getid.maricopa.vote to get a digital copy, sufficient for check-in at a ballot center. You should receive your new card within 2 to 4 weeks of your request.
6. My voter registration card says my party is NONE. What does that mean?
This means that when you first registered to vote, there was no designation on your form of a recognized political party affiliation. If you want to update your party, you can do so online or by filling out a new voter registration form and mailing it or bringing it in to one of our offices.
The 4 recognized political parties in Arizona are Democratic, Green, Libertarian and Republican.
7. I have registered as an Independent. Can I vote in the Primary Election?
Yes. Arizona is an Open Primary state. Independents may vote for candidates of recognized parties in a Primary Election by requesting a recognized party’s ballot. Once a party ballot is chosen it cannot be exchanged for a different party ballot. The exception to this is the Presidential Preference Election. Only members of recognized parties may vote in the Presidential Preference Election.
In Arizona, the recognized parties are DEMOCRAT, GREEN, LIBERTARIAN and REPUBLICAN.
Due to a ruling by the U.S. District Court, the Arizona Libertarian party is not included in Arizona open primary. This means registered Libertarians may only vote a Libertarian ballot.
Once you have chosen a party ballot you cannot exchange it for another party ballot.
8. How can I vote by mail?
For every election:
- Join the Permanent Early Voter List by filling out and sending in this form.
For just one election:
The deadline to request an early ballot is 11 days before Election Day.
If you miss this deadline, you can vote in-person at any Ballot Center location across the County. Ballot Centers are open all 27 days leading up to an Election and on Election Day.
9. How do I cancel my voter registration?
Please email voterinfo@risc.maricopa.gov for a cancellation form.
Recording FAQs
The following information is for informational purposes only; we are unable to assist with the preparation of your document or provide forms. Please contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
1. Where do I obtain a form for recording purposes?
Check with an office supply store. There are also websites that offer forms online for a fee:
http://www.uslegalforms.com, http://www.deeds.com/forms/arizona/, or http://www.deeds.com/forms/supplemental/arizona/
2.What are the fees for recording?
Refer to the Fees schedule or please use our fee calculator on our web site at: recdocdata/recordingfeescalculator.aspx or call 602-506-3535.
3. How do I remove a name to my deed?
Please contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
4. How do I add a name to my property?
Please contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
5. How do I know what liens are on a property?
You can research your property by owner name via our main search page at recdocdata or contact a title company to have a title search performed for you. The title company will charge you a fee to perform a title search.
Note: Researching information on the Recorder’s website does not guarantee that your property is free and clear from any liens.
6. Can you tell me the selling price of a property?
You can research our records at recdocdata by owner name or by recording number. You will then need to determine if an affidavit of value has been recorded. The affidavit of value should contain the sales price information.
You can also look up ownership via the Maricopa County Assessor’s office. You will need to know one of the following: Book, Map and Parcel number, property address or owner’s last name and street name.
7. How do I do a title search?
All records in our office can be located by searching our name index. A title company may also perform one for you for a fee. You can research your property by owner name via our main search page at: recdocdata
If you are doing a title search to guarantee that your property is free and clear from any liens, you must obtain title insurance from a title company. Performing a title search on the Maricopa County website is not a guarantee that property is free and clear from any liens
8. Can you tell me who the owner of a property is by parcel number?
No.You will need to contact the Assessor's Office at https://mcassessor.maricopa.gov/
or by phone: 602-506-3406
9. How do I get the dimensions for my property?
From the subdivision plat, which can be found by your subdivision name at recdocdata.
Or if you have the Book of Maps number or MCR number you can go to internetmaps and enter the pertinent information.
Some subdivision maps may not contain the information you are seeking. You can view the unofficial map or purchase an official copy from our web site for $1.00 per page.
Another option is to check with the city where the property is located. Builders are required to submit their plans to the city to obtain permits.
10. How do I obtain a copy of my deed?
You can purchase an official copy or certified copy online at recdocdata or from our office in person or by mail. Copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies are an additional $3.00.
If mailing your request, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope or add an additional $1.00 for mailing purposes.
11. How can I find out about a house for sale (foreclosure)?
You can research our records at recdocdata by owner name or if you are looking for all property in Maricopa County in foreclosure, simply change the document code field to Notice of Trustee Sale and click search.
12. How do I remove a decedent's name from my deed?
Please contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
13. What is an Affidavit of Real Property Value?
All property sales transactions require a completed affidavit of value or an exemption number, which means that the property transaction is exempt from completing an affidavit of value. For more information, visit:
Or call the Arizona Department of Revenue at 602-716-6843
14. How do I change the ownership of a piece of property?
Please contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
15. How do I record my business name?
Your questions may be answered by the Secretary of State’s office under Trade Name/Trademark Forms.
You may also contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
16. How do I remove an erroneous lien from my property?
Please contact an attorney for legal advice and document(s) preparation.
Your question may be answered by reading Arizona Revised Statute 33-420.
Here is the link to the statutes: http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp.
17. What happens to my document when it is presented for recording?
- If the document meets the form requirements, and is a document required to be recorded and the proper fees have been paid, we will accept your document and assign it a unique recording number and make it a matter of permanent public record by imaging the document.
- Your document may have been imaged and handed back to you at the time of recording. This means you have the original, recorded document when you leave the Recorder's office.
- You may have recorded your document at one of our Interactive Recording Kiosks. This means you will have the original, recorded document when you leave the Kiosk.
- Our Microfilm department films and images your document.
- Our data entry department will enter the pertinent information to create an index so that you may locate this document in the future. This typically takes 10 to 15 working days.
- Your original document will be returned to the address typed on the document. This typically takes 4 to 6 weeks.
- If the original document is ever lost or misplaced, a certified copy may be obtained from our office.
18. How do I get a copy of a birth or death certificate?
These records can be found with the Bureau of Health Statistics, Office of Vital Records at: http://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/vital-records/index.php#death-certificates-home
Contact information: Arizona Department of Health Services: 150 North 18th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85007 General and Public Information: (602) 542-1000
19. How do I get a copy of a marriage license/divorce decree?
These records can be found with the Clerk of the Superior Court. You can visit their website at: http://clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/copies.asp or call them at: 602-506-3730.
20. How do I obtain a passport?
Please contact the Clerk of the Superior Court. You can visit their website at: http://clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/passport.asp or call them at: 602-506-7400
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