Maricopa County increases polling locations, staffing amid predicted historic turnout

PHOENIX (AZFamily)— Election day is in 57 days. Arizona’s largest county is already preparing for a historic turnout, long lines, and a two-page ballot.

This is all while continuing to address concerns of a fair and safe election after an increase in voter intimidation and harassment. Maricopa County leaders have said they’ve taken steps to ensure security is working. represents

“We’ve shown that commitment to the workers security, we have added fencing, we have added badging, we have added metal detectors, added security,” said Bill Gates, who represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors.

Gates says the effort was a necessary expense, especially since the state’s election process has become a hotbed of misinformation and conspiracy theories.

“Frankly at this point it’s starting to just become noise because it has been going on for so long. That doesn’t make it right, it needs to stop,” Gates said. “Obviously if laws are violated, folks will get to the bottom of that, but I have no reason that’s going to happen. There’s been no evidence of that both in 2020 and in 2022.”

The state’s narrow presidential outcome in 2020 also put the process under a national microscope. Elections officials understand that this comes with the territory of being a battleground state, and they expect that the final results will not be known for days after the election.

“It will take much longer,” said the Maricopa County Elections Department during its presentation Monday. “Especially, we are anticipating automatic recounts.”

They are now taking more aggressive steps to be transparent, especially considering they are expecting some hiccups with having the first two-page ballot since 2006.

“We’re estimating right around 11-12 minutes that a voter will complete their ballot. We do expect that our lines will be longer than normal on election day,” elections officials said.

Elections officials said the lines will be the longest at the end of the day, with average wait times of 15 to 20 minutes. They also said during peak voting time, some polling locations may only have a few-minute wait, whereas others could see wait times up to an hour.

Despite schools opting out this November, more than 240 locations will be available to accommodate the estimated 310,000 to 415,000 day-of voters.

County officials say a sample ballot will be available on the voter dashboard at BeBallotReady.Vote.

Click/tap here for more information on how to vote in Maricopa County.

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