In preparation for the March 17, 2020 Presidential Preference Election, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recently approved the first Election Day and Emergency Voting plan, while Recorder Adrian Fontes approved the Early Voting Plan.

The plans — developed under the leadership of Scott Jarrett and Rey Valenzuela, co-directors of the Elections Department — will inform Maricopa County voters and other stakeholders about key information and activities, so that they are prepared to participate in the election, according to a Wednesday news release.

The Election Day and Emergency Voting Plan includes strategies to:

Increase the number of Election Day polling places to 220;

Include 40 “vote anywhere” locations where you can also vote early;

Reduce peak wait-times to less than 30 minutes per voter;

Hire and train 1,500 poll workers; and

Increase check-in stations from 120 to 1,400.

“This collaboration will provide the elections staff with the resources they need to best serve the voters,” said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. “We also expect this plan to help us achieve success for the Presidential Preference Elections and set the foundation for future elections, including the August Primary and November General Elections.”

The Early Voting Plan includes strategies to:

Communicate about the Voter Registration Deadline on Feb. 18, 2020;

Inform voters that only registered Democrats are eligible to vote in the election;

Make 40 Early Voting locations available between Feb. 19 to March 13;

Hire new Voter Registration Clerks at all voting locations; and

Hold community outreach events to educate voters about key election information.

“The election staff has been focused on improving the voter experience for the upcoming election,” Mr. Fontes stated. “I am confident in the work this team has done to ensure our elections are accessible, secure and transparent. I look forward to this continued momentum for all of the 2020 elections.”

Both plans outline the communications strategy to inform voters about both the March 17 Democratic Presidential Preference Election and the March 10 city elections for Tempe and Chandler voters.

The Maricopa County Elections Department serves over 2.3 million registered voters, according to the release.

In June 2019, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors partnered with Mr. Fontes to provide shared oversight over the Elections Department. The Board appointed Scott Jarrett to serve as the Director of Election Day and Emergency Voting to work in collaboration with Rey Valenzuela, director of Election Services and Early Voting.

Find out more at www.Maricopa.Vote.