County, state leaders expect few problems Election Day
Sep 27, 2012, 7:29 AM | Updated: 7:29 am
PHOENIX — Civil rights groups said millions of Hispanic voters could be turned away from the polls on Election Day nationally because they have to show ID or proof of citizenship or because they’ve been purged from voter rolls.
The Arizona Secretary of State Office said it doesn’t purge rolls. Voters have been required to show ID at the polls since 2004 and the office said there have been few complaints. Of the complaints received, many have been from people who felt their wait in line was too long.
Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell doesn’t expect voter ID issues to be a problem.
“We provide Spanish translators at some polling locations so if there is a question they’ll have somebody who will be able to help,” Purcell said. “We have troubleshooters around Maricopa County. We know there will be observers at the polls.”
When filling out a voter registration form in Arizona, a person has to prove that he or she is an American citizen.
“It isn’t checked again when you cast your vote because you’re already registered or you wouldn’t be going there to vote.,” Purcell said.
“If you’ve registered on a federal form you don’t have to provide that proof and we’re required by law to accept it.”
But ID is required at the polls in order to vote.
“It can be a driver’s license, passport, military ID or a non-operator license issued by the state or if you don’t have those it can be at least two other pieces of identification.”
Purcell said anyone who shows up at the polls without ID or registtration hasn’t been updated since a name change or a move will be given a provisional ballot. That vote will be counted after Election Day.
“We will go through the process to verify that person is a registered voter. We could have 50,000-75,000 provisional ballots cast on Election Day.”
Purcell said about 90 percent of the provisional ballots cast during elections here count. The remainder is made up mainly of people who aren’t registered to vote.
Purcell estimates turnout will be about 65 percent of Maricopa County’s 1.9 million registered voters.
