Know Your Rights as a Voter

How to register to vote if you are an Arizona resident with an accepted I.D.:

• Arizona residents can register to vote up to 29 days before Election Day.
• If you have an Arizona-issued driver’s license or non-operating I.D. card, you can register to vote online here.
• A paper copy of the Arizona state voter registration form can be found here.
• If you have an Arizona-issued driver’s license, Arizona-issued non-operating I.D. card, or any of the other forms of I.D. listed below, it is recommended that you provide the number from that I.D. on your state voter registration form:
  • Naturalization Certificate Number;
  • Citizenship Certificate Number;
  • Alien Registration Number (also known as an “A-Number”);
  • Indian Census Number;
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs Card Number;
  • Tribal Treaty Card Number; or
  • Tribal Enrollment Number.

How to register to vote if you do not have an accepted I.D. listed above:

You must provide documentary proof of citizenship in order to vote in both the Arizona state and federal elections, otherwise you will receive a federal-only ballot. If you do not have an Arizona-issued driver’s license, non-operating I.D. card, or one of the I.D.s listed above, it is recommended that you register to vote using the Federal Voter Registration Form. That form must be completed, printed out and mailed or delivered to your county recorder.

• County Recorder Contact Information
• more information about voter registration
• voter registration and eligibility requirements

If you have further questions about voter registration, contact your county recorder’s office here.

Checking your voter registration status before the registration deadline is highly recommended to confirm your registration is up to date. You can check your voter registration status here: Arizona Voter Information Portal →

You should update your voter registration if you have moved or changed your first or last name since you last voted.

If you have an Arizona-issued driver’s license or non-operating I.D. card, you can update your registration online: Update your registration here →

You can also mail or deliver a paper copy of the Arizona state voter registration form to your county recorder.

• Download the state registration form
• Find your county recorder’s contact information

Arizona voters have three options to vote early before Election Day:

1. Register for the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) to get a ballot by mail for every election they are eligible to vote in. Register for the Active Early Voting List by updating your voter registration online or print and complete this form and mail, fax, or scan and email a copy to your county recorder’s office at least 11 days before Election Day. NOTE: if a voter does not vote early in two consecutive election cycles, they will be removed from AEVL and will need to re-register.
2. Request a one-time ballot by mail. NOTE: unlike the State Voter Registration Form, there is no way to request a ballot-by-mail when registering to vote with the Federal Voter Registration Form. Individuals using the Federal Voter Registration Form will need to fill-out an additional form to request a ballot-by-mail.
3. Vote early in-person. Early in-person voting begins 27 days before Election Day until the Friday before Election Day. Find an Early Voting Location Near You.

Arizona voters have the option to vote in-person on during the state’s early voting period and on Election Day.

What to do

1. Find your polling place or vote center and its hours of operation
2. Make a plan to vote: when, where, and how will you cast your vote, what I.D. documents will you need to bring, and how will you get there?

Types of voting locations by county

• Cochise, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yavapai and Yuma counties have voter centers, so voters can vote in-person on Election Day at any location.
• Coconino, Gila, Graham, and Greenlee use a hybrid model: these counties have vote centers where voters can vote in-person on Election Day at any location AND other polling locations that are restricted by precinct. Voters can choose to go to any vote center or the polling location in their assigned precinct.
• Apache, Pinal, and Mohave restrict polling location by precinct.
  • PINAL COUNTY VOTERS: You MUST vote at the correct polling place on Election Day. If you are at the wrong polling place, you will not be allowed to vote. Be sure to check your assigned polling place to ensure your vote counts.

In Arizona, every voter is required to show proof of identity when voting in person. There are three types of I.D. you can use:

1. Photo I.D. that includes your name and address that matches the information you registered to vote with. (one required) OR
2. Two identifying documents without a photograph that include your name and address that matches the information you registered to vote with, such as a bill or bank statement, OR
3. One photo I.D. that includes your name but does not have an address that matches the address you registered to vote with AND one identifying document with your name and address that matches the information you registered to vote with.

Learn what materials to bring with you on Election Day →

• Every voter has the right to cast their ballot and have their vote counted. Our democracy needs all of us to fully and fairly participate.
  If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line – you have the right to vote.
• If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask for a new one.
• If you run into any problems or have questions on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline:
  • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
  • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
  • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
  • Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese: 1-888-API-VOTE / 1-888-274-8683

Your rights

• Under federal law, all polling places for federal elections must be fully accessible to older adults and voters with disabilities. Simply allowing curbside voting is not enough to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements.
• In federal elections, every polling place must have at least one voting system that allows voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently. Usually, this is a machine that can read the ballot to you (for people with vision disabilities or dyslexia), and let you vote by pushing buttons (for people with mobility disabilities).
• Under federal law, voters with disabilities and voters who have difficulty reading or writing English have the right to receive in-person help at the polls from the person of their choice. This helper cannot be the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an agent or officer of the voter’s union. The helper must respect the voter’s privacy, not looking at the voter’s ballot unless the voter asks them to do so.
• Election officials (including poll workers) must make reasonable accommodations as needed to help you vote.
• Election officials must provide you with help if it’s possible for them to do so.
• A voter with a mental disability cannot be turned away from the polls because a poll worker thinks they are not ‘qualified’ to vote.

What to do

• You can bring a family member, friend, or another person of your choice to assist you at the polls. Do not bring your employer, or an agent of your employer or union.
• If you bring a person to assist you, let the poll workers know that when you check in. They may ask you to swear under oath that you have a disability and that you have asked that person to help you. Your helper may also be required to sign a form swearing that they did not tell you how to vote.
• If there are long lines and you have a physical or mental health condition or disability that makes it difficult for you to stand in line, tell a poll worker.
• Tell election officials what you need. For example, if it’s hard for you to stand, they should provide you with a chair or a place to sit while you wait. If the crowds or noise are hard for you, election officials can find a quiet place for you to wait and call you when it’s your turn to vote.
• If you are not able to enter your polling place because the pathway to it is not fully accessible, ask poll workers for curbside assistance. Also call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report the issue.
• If you have difficulty using the materials provided to make your ballot selections, review, or cast your ballot, let a poll worker know and ask for the help you need. Accessibility is the law.
• If you face any challenges in voting privately and independently or are unable to cast your vote, report the problem to the Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Trained attorneys can assist you and make sure that other voters do not experience the same problem.

Additional information

• Find detailed voting guides at Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
• For a toolkit on voting with a disability, visit the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
• Visit SABE’s GoVoter Project for accessible trainings on how to exercise your rights as a voter with a disability.
• Take a course on polling place accessibility requirements at the Rocky Mountain ADA Center.
• For voting in formation in American Sign Language, visit SignVote.

Your rights

• Under federal law, voters who have difficulty reading or writing English may receive in-person assistance at the polls from the person of their choice. This person cannot be the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an agent or officer of the voter’s union.
• Counties covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act are required to provide bilingual assistance to voters in specific languages. This means that they must provide poll workers who speak certain languages, and make all election materials and election-related information available in those languages.
• Check whether your county is required to provide bilingual election assistance in a language you speak.

What to do

• You can bring a family member, friend, or other person of your choice to assist you at the polls. Do not bring your employer, or an agent of your employer or union.
• If you live in a county that’s required to provide bilingual voting assistance for a language you speak, you can request oral assistance from a bilingual poll worker and ask for voting materials, such as a ballot, in that language.
• If you have trouble voting due to lack of English fluency, call one of these hotlines:
  • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
  • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
  • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
  • Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese: 1-888-API-VOTE / 1-888-274-8683

Additional information: For detailed guidance on bilingual voting assistance, visit Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

Examples of voter intimidation

• Aggressively questioning voters about their citizenship, criminal record, or other qualifications to vote.
• Falsely representing oneself as an election official.
• Displaying false or misleading signs that voter fraud is a crime.
• Use of threat of physical force or verbal aggression.
• Aggressively asking a voter whom they are voting for, or trying to prevent a voter from voting by aggressive challenges (inside or outside of the policy place).
• Following a voter to the parking lot (and copying a license tag).
• Disrupting voting lines inside or outside of a polling place.
• Other forms of harassment, particularly harassment targeting non-English speakers and voters of color.
• Spreading false information about voter requirements.

Your rights

• It’s illegal to intimidate voters and a federal crime to “intimidate, threaten, [or] coerce … any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of [that] other person to vote or to vote as he may choose.”
• Remember: you do not need to speak English to vote in any state. You do not need to pass a test to vote in any state.

What to do if you experience voter intimidation

• In many states, you can give a sworn statement to the poll worker that you satisfy the qualifications to vote in your state and then proceed to cast a ballot.
• Report intimidation to the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
• Report intimidation to your local election officials. Their offices will be open on Election Day.

Generally speaking, law enforcement officers, whether uniformed or plain-clothes, should not be stationed within the 75-foot limit of a voting location. Exceptions may apply if the officer is voting, the voting location is within a public safety building, or if an officer is called to respond to a specific emergency.

Because many people find the presence of police officers at polling locations intimidating, police officers should only be called to polling locations as a last resort.

If you encounter threatening or intimidating behavior by law enforcement at your polling location or someone pretending to be a law enforcement officer, please call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.

• For the Spanish Language Hotline, call 888-VE-Y-VOTA
• For the Native Vote/Tribal Communities Hotline, call 888-777-3831
• For the Asian American Pacific Islander Language Hotline, call 888-API-VOTE
• For the Arabic Language Hotline, call 844-YALLA-US
• For the Voters with Disabilities Hotline, call 1-800-927-2260

See the full “Know Your Rights” page on this topic to learn more →

Your rights

• Voters are entitled to a provisional ballot, even if they aren’t in the poll book.
• After Election Day, election officials must investigate whether you are qualified to vote and registered. If you are qualified and registered, they will count your provisional ballot.

What to do

• Ask the poll worker to double check for your name on the list of registered voters. Make sure to spell your name out for the poll worker.
• If your name is not on the list, ask if there is a supplemental list of voters.
• If the poll worker still cannot find your name, confirm that you are at the correct polling place:
  • Request that the poll workers check a statewide system (if one is available) to see if you are registered to vote at a different polling place.
  • If the poll worker does not have access to a statewide system, ask them to call the main election office.
  • You can also call 1-866-OUR-VOTE and ask for help verifying your proper polling place.
• If you are registered at a different location, in most instances you will have to travel to that location to cast a regular ballot.
• If the poll worker still cannot find your name or if you cannot travel to the correct polling place, ask for a provisional ballot.

Cochise, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yavapai and Yuma counties have voter centers, so voters can vote in-person on Election Day at any location.

Coconino, Gila, Graham, and Greenlee use a hybrid model: these counties have vote centers where voters can vote in-person on Election Day at any location AND other polling locations that are restricted by precinct. Voters can choose to go to any vote center or the polling location in their assigned precinct.

Apache, Pinal, and Mohave restrict polling location by precinct.

Check the status of your provisional ballot here →

If you completed a conditional provisional ballot because you did not provide I.D., you must complete identification verification with your county recorder 5 days after Election Day. Find your county recorder’s contact information here.

Additional information
If you are turned away or denied a provisional ballot, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE and report your experience to local election officials.

Check the status of your ballot-by-mail/early ballot here →

If there is a problem with the signature on a ballot-by-mail/early ballot it can be corrected up to 5 days after the election. For information about how to correct problems contact your county recorder’s office here.

NOTE: in Maricopa County, signatures can often be corrected by text or phone.

To vote a full ballot in Arizona (state and federal elections), voters are required to provide documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC). This is satisfied by listing any of the I.D. numbers described on your voter registration form.

If you do not have one of these I.D.s, you must provide a photocopy of documentation establishing your citizenship. Here is the list of accepted documents:

• Out of State Driver’s License or Identification Card from these states: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington
• Birth Certificate from any U.S. state or territory
• Certification of Report of Birth or Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• U.S. Passport or U.S. passport card

NOTE: You must supply supporting legal documentation (such as a marriage certificate or court-documented name change) if the name on the birth certificate is not the registrant’s current legal name.

You can provide this DPOC when you originally register to vote, or mail or deliver it to your county recorder’s office before 7:00 pm on Election Day.

If you registered before August 22, 2024 or using a Federal Voter Registration Form and did not provide DPOC, you will only be able to vote in all races for federal office in Arizona.

If you have further questions about voter registration, contact your county recorder’s office.

Find your county recorder’s contact information here →

Before counting all ballots by mail and early ballots, election officials must compare the signature on the green affidavit envelope with the voter’s signature in the voter’s registration record. If they are not satisfied that the signatures match, the county recorder shall make reasonable and meaningful attempts to contact the voter by mail, phone, text message, and/or email to notify the voter of the inconsistent signature. You should, therefore, receive notice of the signature mismatch and have an opportunity to correct it. The process of allowing voters to fix issues on their ballot is known as ballot curing.

What is the deadline to correct issues with my signature on my Mail/Early Ballot?

• You can correct your signature mismatch up to 5 days after Election Day. Find upcoming curing deadlines here.
• If your ballot is rejected because it was missing a signature, you must cure the missing signature by 7:00 pm on Election Day.

How can I correct issues with my signature on my mail-in ballot?

• County officials will provide you with options to correct your signature in the notice they sent you. In all counties, you can correct your signature by visiting your local county recorder’s office in person. Their offices will be open:
  • Monday, November 2, from 8 am – 5 pm
  • Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day), from 8 am – 7 pm
  • Wednesday, November 4, 8 am – 5 pm
  • Thursday, November 5, 8 am – 5 pm
  • Friday, November 6, 8 am – 5 pm
  • Saturday, November 7, 8 am – 5 pm
  • Sunday, November 8, 8 am – 5 pm
• Alternatives to curing your ballot in-person: Some counties may provide additional ways to correct your signature. Election officials in some counties will verify your identity over the phone using certain personal identifiable information contained on your voter record. In other counties, you can cure through a text program that provides you with a link to a secure portal where you can validate your signature and verify your identity by uploading an image of your Arizona Driver License or Arizona State ID. Be sure to check your County Recorder’s website to see which methods are available.

Find Your County Recorder’s Contact Information Here

Arizona law ONLY authorizes challenges to ballot by mail or early ballots on one of the following grounds:

• The voter has voted more than once in this election
• The voter is not the person whose name appears on the register
• The voter has not resided in the State for 29 days preceding the election or other event for which the registrant’s status as properly registered is in question
• The voter is not properly registered at an address permitted
• The voter is not a qualified registrant. See the Secretary of State’s website for a list of the voter qualifications.

Challenges may NOT be made on the following grounds. If a challenger says you are ineligible for one of the following reasons, their challenge should be dismissed:

• Your race, national origin, appearance, surname, language, or religion
• You registered to vote using the State or federal form and did not provide documentary proof of citizenship
• You moved from one address within the county to another within the county

If a challenge has been made to your ballot-by-mail or early ballot, election official must mail you a notice of the challenge, a copy of the challenge, and the time and place of the hearing where you can defend the challenge within 24 hours after the challenge was accepted.

These materials will be sent to the address shown on your request for the ballot-by-mail. If no address was provided, that is listed as part of your voter registration record. Additionally, you might also get notice via a phone call to the phone number or email to the email address in your registration record.

Your county’s Early Election Board will schedule a hearing for your challenge. This hearing must occur within 6 days after Election Day, but cannot be any sooner than 96 hours after the notice was mailed OR 48 hours if the notice was sent overnight or hand delivered. This is an informal opportunity to submit brief statements regarding the challenge.

You can optionally attend your hearing in-person or you submit a written statement addressing the challenge, but not attending or responding will not count against you. It is on the challenger to show by clear and convincing evidence why your early ballot should not be counted. This means that they must provide sufficient, individualized facts to establish a conclusion that is highly probable or reasonably certain.

The Early Election Board will ultimately decide whether to count your vote — whether you attend, submit a statement, or refrain from addressing the challenge. If your ballot is rejected, the board will send the voter a notice stating whether the early ballot was disallowed and provide the grounds for the determination. Their decision is final.

Responding to your challenge

• You have the right to submit a brief statement to your county elections explaining why whichever of these challenges has been raised why it does not apply to you.
• If the reason for the challenge is not allowed by Arizona law (see above), you can say that the challenger has failed to raise a valid challenge and it must be dismissed immediately.
• If the challenge raises one of the reasons allowed by Arizona law (see above), provide information to counter any claim that you are ineligible to vote. This may mean including:
  • A statement identifying yourself; and that you are a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 years old and otherwise qualified to vote.
  • A statement detailing any efforts you made to provide documentary proof of your citizenship. Not all voters in Arizona need to provide documentary proof of citizenship, and this should not be the reason for a challenge, so if this is the reason provided, you should contact 1-866-Our -Vote.
    • See a list of accepted documentary proof of citizenship
  • A statement that you have not voted previously in the current election or an explanation of past, unsuccessful attempts to vote in the current election.
  • A statement explaining why you have not been living at the address listed on your voter registration for the last 29 days. This statement might explain that you are a student or in the armed services.
  • A statement detailing when and how you registered to vote.
  • A statement detailing any recent efforts to correct mistakes or changes in your voter registration.

If you have any questions or need assistance with responding to a ballot challenge, please contact the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Anyone who is 18 years of age on or before the before the day of the next general election, a U.S. citizen, and meets the residency requirements of Arizona can vote — regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Being transgender, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming is not a reason for you to be denied the right to exercise your constitutional right to vote.

What to Do Before Election Day: Consider Signing Up to Vote by Mail!

Check your voter registration status at my.arizona.vote to make sure you are registered.

If you are registered, make sure that your name and address are up to date. You must register by the deadline (usually 29 days before Election Day) to be able to vote.

Consider signing up to vote by mail. The deadline to request a mail ballot is typically 11 days before the election. For future elections, you can request a one-time ballot or ask to be placed on the Active Early Voting List and receive a mail ballot for every election by visiting my.arizona.vote.

If you vote by mail, make sure you fill out your ballot and sign it using the name listed on your voter registration, which should also match your driver’s license or identification card. Don’t forget to include the date and your phone number on the ballot so election officials can follow up if there is an issue with your signature. The last recommended day to mail back your ballot is one week before Election Day.

Check my.arizona.vote to make sure your ballot was counted.

What to Do if Voting In Person Early or on Election Day

Arizona does require voters to show valid identification if voting in person. You may present one form of photo ID with your current name and address, or two forms of non-photo ID that together confirm your identity and address.

If your gender identity or gender presentation do not match the name, photo, or gender marker on your identification, do not worry.

Consider having your voter registration card, a utility bill showing the address where you are registered, and any other forms of identification you may have.

If you are still unable to vote, please call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE / 866-687-8683.

If you are not allowed to vote on a regular ballot, request a provisional ballot and ask for necessary follow-up instructions. Follow any steps provided; you will have 3-5 days after Election Day (depending on the election) to resolve any issues.

Check my.arizona.vote to make sure your ballot was counted.

Consider bringing a supportive family member or friend with you to the polls. Note: while you can make a plan to go to the polls with someone for support, you will have to vote independently (unless you need assistance in filling out your ballot).

When voting in person, photography and videography, including photos and videos taken with a smartphone, are not allowed within 75 feet of the polling place.

As long as your children are under the age of 18, you are permitted to bring them into the polling place with you and have them with you while you vote.

Yes, you can bring printed materials into the voting booth.

Yes, you may wear clothing with a political message on it while voting. But you may not hand out campaign literature, talk to other voters about candidates or political issues, or otherwise attempt to influence the election while voting and within 75 feet from the polling place.

No. Firearms are not permitted within 75 feet of any polling place. In addition, many schools are used as polling places, which may make it illegal to have your firearm anywhere on the property. Openly carrying a firearm on polling place property, even outside of the 75-foot limit, could be considered unlawful voter intimidation.