Maricopa County officials release approved plan for 2022 elections

PHOENIX — Maricopa County officials have released the approved plan for the upcoming 2022 elections, which includes an expansion of voting access.

The plan, which can be viewed online, informs voters about key information on ways to cast their ballot and what to expect for the primary election in August and general election in November.

“I am grateful and proud of the team in the Recorder’s Office and Elections Department for their steadfast dedication in planning for the 2022 primary and general elections with thoroughness and competency,” Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer said in a press release.

“I encourage the public to read this plan and make sure they are prepared for how they choose to participate in Maricopa County elections this year.”

People can vote in both elections several ways, including through the mail, by dropping off an early ballot at secure boxes or casting a ballot at voter centers before or on Election Day.

The county will use a “vote anywhere” model that allows people to choose from a variety of locations, days and hours that are convenient for them to vote in person or drop off an early ballot.

There will be 210-225 vote centers in the county that will be phased in, according to the plan, opening up to 27 days before Election Day and others that will be available only on Election Day.

The vote centers can be found throughout the county, which the county said will serve rural communities, Native American tribes and densely populated areas. The centers are usually less than two miles apart and are near bus routes or light rail lines, the county said.

People will be able to view live wait times and search for voting centers near them on the county’s website.

The county used the same model last election cycle, with around 170 locations available for voters in 2020. It was a change from 2016 when a precinct model was used where voters were assigned to a voting precinct.

Early ballots will be mailed to voters signed up on the Active Early Voting List on July 6 for the primary election and Oct. 12 for the general election. The county said more than two million people are signed up on the Active Early Voting List, which represents 77% of voters.

An estimated 748,000-961,000 people are expected to cast a ballot in the primary election and 1.4-1.9 million in the general election, the county said.

It was also said in the plan that Maricopa County is looking to hire 2,600 poll workers, 750 truck drivers and other positions for the elections. People can submit their interest for the positions here.

The county said the polarization of elections may pose a hiring challenge, but they are trying to overcome that in various ways, such as providing incentive pay, hiring professional trainers and requiring inspectors to take premium training.

Results will be posted online beginning at 8 p.m. on Election Day, the county said, starting with the early ballots that have been counted up to that point.

The county said it expects to count ballots and report daily updates until Aug. 9 for the primary election and Nov. 17 for the general election due to the time it takes to signature verify and process early ballots, as well as counting write-in contests, vetting provisional ballots and curing questionable signatures.

The plan was developed under the leadership of Elections Department co-directors Scott Jarrett and Rey Valenzuela, the county said.

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