In addition to the regular ballot drop-off process, voters can now choose ID Verified Early Ballot Drop-Off at any of 120 Vote Centers for the July 21 Primary Election. This new option allows voters to present approved identification when they drop off their ballot, rather than having their signature checked later.
Here's how it works:
- Bring your completed early ballot in its signed, dated, and sealed affidavit envelope, along with sufficient identification, to any Vote Center by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- Proceed to a special table for ID-verified ballots.
- A poll worker will check your ID, verify your voter registration information, and ask you to sign the electronic poll book.
- The poll worker will then stamp the ballot envelope as ID Verified, initial the stamp, and place it in a special drop-off box.
- The voter receives a printed receipt for the accepted ballot.
The benefit? After the polls close, the affidavit envelopes are securely transported to the Elections Office for processing and tabulation. These ID-verified ballots do not need to be turned over to the Recorder’s Office for signature verification, which could speed up the tabulation process for ballots turned over on Election Day if enough early ballot voters use the new verification process.
In 2022, more than 44,000 voters dropped off their early ballots on Election Day, and in 2024, 32,594 early ballots were dropped off at Vote Centers. All those ballots had to go to the Recorder’s Office for verification, which takes several days to process that many early ballots. If the majority of early ballot voters who wish to drop off their ballots on Election Day use the verified process, it would likely reduce the time needed to complete vote tabulation.
The ID-verified early ballot drop-off option will also be available on Election Day at the Recorder’s downtown office, 240 N. Stone Ave., although the process may differ.
Voters can still use the standard early ballot drop-off process at Vote Centers on Election Day. With that option, the signature on the ballot envelope is reviewed after Election Day before the ballot is processed and counted. Both methods are valid and will result in a counted ballot when properly submitted.
There are a few important differences. The ID-verified option can only be used for your own ballot, while the standard process allows eligible voters to drop off ballots for a family member, household member, or someone in their care.
For updated information about elections, visit pima.vote.
2026 Primary Election — Key dates
- June 5 – Ballots mailed to uniform and overseas voters
- June 22 – Last day to register to vote
- June 24 – Early voting begins/early ballots mailed
- July 10 – Last day to request a mail ballot
- July 14 – Recommended deadline to mail back ballot
- July 21 – Election Day
Go to pima.vote to find an interactive map of early voting sites, 24-hour ballot drop-off boxes, and locations for the Mobile Voting Unit. The Recorder’s Office maintains a list of all those locations at its website.
Residents can confirm their registration and voting preferences at their voter dashboard from the Recorder’s Office.