Maricopa County supervisors approve voting centers, emergency locations for election
(Screen capture from YouTube)
Assistant Maricopa County Manager Zach Shira (left) and Maricopa County Director of Elections Scott Jarrett speak to members of the Board of Supervisors at its meeting On Sept. 2.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved polling locations and emergency vote centers for the November general election during its regular meeting Tuesday.
The resolution approved 254 voting centers, 54 of which will be open on the Saturday prior to Election Day on Nov. 3, and another 151 open the day prior to the election.
“The vote centers are aligned with the plan that was approved in April prior to the primary election,” Scott Jarrett, Maricopa County Director of Elections, told the board.
“We tried to use voting locations that have been used in the past,” Jarrett added. “The highest response is going to previous locations where they voted.”
New locations in Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Mesa, the Peoria/Sun City border and south Phoenix were needed due to growth in those areas since the 2024 presidential election.
“We try to identify the gaps by using heat maps where voters live and where they tend to go to vote, and then we looked at the last three elections, and where new voters live,” Jarrett said.
Jarrett did say this year’s general election ballot will be a one-page front-and-back ballot, which should cut down on the time it takes to count ballots.
Supervisor Mark Stewart asked Jarrett if there were any concerns about long lines during this election, and Jarrett tried to calm Stewart of those concerns.
“There are always going to be lines,” Jarrett said, “our goal is to keep them under 30 minutes.
“In 2024, the average wait time was just a few minutes, so we are confident with the turnout models, that our lines will be under 30 minutes," Jarrett added.
Jarrett also said they will be proactive on social media to get the word out about alternative locations near polling sites that have long lines, pushing voters to go to a location that may only be a mile or two away from their current location.
“I didn’t realize how complex elections were until I got this job,” said Vice Chair Debbie Lesko. “And I didn’t know how complex it was to get voting centers. You have to work months in advance to sign contracts with these places.
“It used to be that schools were voting centers, now, they don’t,” Lesko said. “I don’t know why, maybe it’s because of controversy. It used to be more churches did it. Now they don’t. These places don’t want to do it anymore, so to get more voting centers than we did in 2024 is a great accomplishment.”
What wasn’t announced was drop box locations, how many drop boxes will be available and early voting sites that the county Recorder’s Office is responsible for. Those locations should be announced by Sept. 18, Jarrett said.
All those locations will be published online at locations.maricopa.vote.
Meet Jeff Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.
Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.
Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication
Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.
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