It’s election year again. Doesn’t it seem to come around quickly? PebbleCreek Dems have been busy registering Arizona residents to vote and working to assist candidates. Our democratic system in the U.S. relies on citizens making their preferences known through the ballot. Any citizen 18 and over can vote in all elections—local, state, and national.
Exercising our right to vote is both an obligation and a privilege. So many people around the world are unable to do so and live in countries where a small, usually rich, few dictate how the country is run. No matter our political views, when it comes to voting the power is in our own hands.
In Arizona, and especially in Maricopa County, we are fortunate to have a well run voting system. The Arizona Secretary of State’s website (our current Secretary is Adrian Fontes) has all the information we need to find out whether we are eligible to vote, how to register, how and where to vote and more. The website address is azsos.gov.
In our state, we have two choices as to how to vote. One option is to vote early through a mail–in ballot. On the Secretary of State’s website, after checking eligibility and registering to vote, you can ask to join the Active Early Voting List (AEVL). Once on the list, a mail–in ballot is automatically sent to you for each election. You must, however, first register for the AEVL at least 11 days before the election date. Arizona has a long history with mail–in voting and it has always been extremely popular. In 1991, the legislature allowed Arizona residents to request an absentee ballot for any reason without having to say why. In 1997, the word “absentee” was changed to “early.” As well as mailing in, ballots can be dropped off before the election at various designated drop off points around the Valley.
Since the approval of mail–in ballots, the percentage of Arizonans voting by mail has steadily increased so that now, the majority of votes are mailed in. Ballots are sent out 30 days before an election. You can also have email and text messages to let you know that your ballot is being prepared and is on the way.
If you do prefer to show up at a voting center, take your ID with you. An explanation of acceptable IDs is on the website. You may vote at any location within Maricopa Country if you are a PebbleCreek resident with a primary home here.
The message is Vote! Vote! Vote! Exercise your right to vote. You can make a difference.
The PebbleCreek Democratic Club will not meet in July or August. Meetings will resume on Sept. 4 at the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Meetings are open and all are welcome.