More than 477K ballots mailed by Pima County to launch early voting in Nov. election

Pima County officials were set to send more than 477,000 ballots to voters Wednesday, kicking off early voting in the Nov. 3 election.

Voters here will help decide several key contests, including a congressional race between U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democratic Party challenger JoAnna Mendoza that could tip the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives; statewide races for governor, attorney general, secretary of state and other offices; several competitive races for the Arizona Legislature; and contests for local school boards and more.

Voters will also make decisions on eight statewide propositions involving hot-button issues including how our elections are run, school district funding and taxation, along with local measures in Pima County, the city of Tucson, school districts and other jurisdictions. (Find a roundup of state and local propositions at TucsonSentinel.com.)

Read the Sentinel’s 2026 Election Guide here.

As of Sept. 30, local election officials were planning on sending 477,981 ballots Wednesday to voters on the Active Early Voter List, a directory of voters who have signed up to receive a ballot in every election, along with voters who had otherwise requested a ballot for this election, according to Recorder’s Office spokesperson Mike Truelsen.

Voters can still request an early ballot by calling 520-724-4330 or visiting the Pima County Recorder’s Office website before Friday, Oct. 23.

Ballots have to be in the custody of the Pima County Recorder’s Office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 or they will be disqualified, so voters are encouraged to mail their early ballots back by Oct. 27.

After that day, voters are encouraged to drop off completed ballots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through July 21 at various locations, including the branch offices of the Pima County Recorder’s Office and at various early voting locations.

If voters wish to cast a ballot in person, early polling sites are open beginning Wednesday, Oct. 5, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Pima County Recorder’s Office branches at 240 N. Stone Ave., and 6550 S. Country Club Road, as well as the Ward 2 Tucson City Council office, 7820 E. Broadway.

Completed early ballots can be dropped off at those locations and at the recorder’s Eastside office, 6920 E. Broadway Blvd.

Additional early voting sites will open later this month. Find a full list on the recorder’s website.

For Election Day, the Pima County Elections Department plans to open 126 vote centers across Pima County on July 21 where voters can cast their vote in person or turn in their vote-by-mail ballots. Find a map on the Elections Department website.

This year, voters will have the option of verifying their vote-by-mail ballot at vote centers on Election Day under the provisions of a new state law aimed at reducing the number of vote-by-mail ballots that must undergo signature verification. Local election officials told Tucson Sentinel that the impact of the new policy remained to be seen.

Visit Pima.Vote for more details about voting in Pima County.