OPINION — Many Arizona voters may not realize that Maricopa County has introduced a new option for returning early mail ballots that could significantly speed up the counting process.
If you receive an early ballot by mail, you can still return it by mail or at a secure drop box. However, beginning this election, you also have the option of taking your sealed ballot to a Vote Center, presenting a valid photo ID and having your identity verified onsite.
Before Election Day, a poll worker will verify your ID, stamp your sealed ballot envelope and place it in the secure ballot box. Because your identity has already been verified, election officials won’t need to perform the usual signature verification later, allowing your ballot to move directly into tabulation after it reaches election headquarters.
