Maricopa County elections 2023: What to know about the November city and school district elections
Maricopa County's municipal and school district elections are less than two months away, so it's time for voters to prepare.
Election Day will be Nov. 7. Since all races this year in Maricopa County are local (there are no county, state or federal questions), all voters will receive ballots by mail — even if they are not on the Active Early Voting List. Voters will have the option of mailing their ballot back, dropping it off or voting a replacement ballot in person.
The questions on a voter's ballot will depend on the voter's city and school district. Races this year include bond authorizations and school district maintenance and operations budget overrides.
Here's what you need to know about the November election.
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How do I register to vote and check my Arizona registration?
You must be registered by Oct. 10 to vote in the November election.
You are qualified to register to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old before Election Day and a resident of Arizona for at least 29 days before the election. You cannot register to vote if you are a convicted felon and your rights have not been restored or have been adjudicated as an incapacitated person.
You can register to vote online if you have an Arizona driver's license or state ID.
Otherwise, you'll need to register with a paper voter registration form. You can return the form to your county Recorder's Office by mail or drop it off. If you're a Maricopa County voter, the Elections Department offers a 24-hour secure elections drop box outside its headquarters at 510 S. Third Ave. in Phoenix.
If you register with a paper form, you must provide proof of citizenship. Remember to include a photocopy of one of these documents:
Your Arizona driver's license
Your Arizona non-operating identification card
Your birth certificate
The photo identification page of your U.S. passport or passport card
Your naturalization documents
Your alien registration number
Your U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs or tribal identification card
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How can I check my voter registration status?
Maricopa County voters who have already registered to vote can check their registration status online at BeBallotReady.Vote. Voters can update their registration information and address through the site.
That site also provides information about the date of the next election, what is on the ballot and where to find voting locations.
Arizona voters in other counties can check their registration status through My.Arizona.Vote.
To use either site, you'll need to provide one of the following:
Your driver's license number
Your tribal identification card number
The last four digits of your Social Security number
Where can I vote in Maricopa County?
For the 2023 election, participating Maricopa County jurisdictions will hold a "Ballot by Mail" election, which means all qualified voters will be automatically sent a ballot regardless of whether or not they are on the Active Early Voting List.
From there, voters can return the ballot by mail, drop it off at a secure ballot drop box or voting location or vote a replacement ballot in person.
If you're mailing back your ballot, you should put it in the mail no later than Oct. 31. If you're dropping off your ballot, you must do so by 7 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 7).
Maricopa County has not yet announced where its drop boxes and in-person voting sites will be located in November. Once announced, the locations will be listed on the Elections Department website (https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/where-to-vote.html).
I'm out of town. Will my ballot be forwarded?
No, your ballot will not be automatically sent to your temporary address. Arizona law does not allow official election materials, such as ballots, to be forwarded by the U.S. Postal Service.
Maricopa County voters who want a ballot mailed to a temporary address should call the Elections Department at 602-506-1511 or email EVreq@risc.maricopa.gov. If emailing, you should provide your full name, residence address, temporary mailing address and date of birth.
Voters in other counties who need a ballot forwarded should contact their county recorder.
What's on the November 2023 ballot?
Voters in these cities and school districts will decide whether to authorize bonds:
El Mirage
Glendale
Goodyear
Phoenix
Surprise
Agua Fria Union No. 216
Avondale Elementary No. 44
Liberty Elementary No. 25
Litchfield Elementary No. 79
Paradise Valley Unified No. 69
Phoenix Union No. 210
Kyrene Elementary No. 28
Tolleson Elementary No. 17
Fountain Hills Unified No. 98
Tolleson Union No. 214
Voters in these school districts will choose whether to authorize maintenance and operations overrides:
Fowler Elementary No. 45
Gila Bend Unified No. 24
Littleton Elementary No. 65
Scottsdale Unified No. 48
Voters in these school districts will see questions related to both bonds and maintenance and operations overrides on their ballot:
Deer Valley Unified No. 97
Gilbert Unified No. 41
Madison Elementary No. 38
Osborn Elementary No. 8
Glendale Elementary No. 40
Queen Creek Unified No. 95
Mesa Unified No. 4
Pendergast Elementary No. 92
Voters in the following school districts will decide whether to authorize their district to sell, lease or exchange certain real property:
Alhambra Elementary No. 68
Fountain Hills Unified No. 98
Glendale Elementary No. 40
Voters in these school districts will choose whether to authorize district additional assistance overrides:
Glendale Elementary No. 40
Kyrene Elementary No. 28
Queen Creek Unified No. 95
Additionally, Litchfield Park voters will decide whether they want the city to draft a charter and choose 14 people, called "freeholders," who would be involved in that process.
You can see what is on your specific ballot on BeBallotReady.Vote.
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Arizona election-related deadlines to know
Sept. 23: Overseas and military ballots are mailed out
Oct. 10: Voter registration deadline
Oct. 11: Ballots are mailed to domestic voters, and drop boxes open
Oct. 30: In-person ballot replacement voting begins
Oct. 31: Last day to mail your ballot back
Nov. 7: Election Day
Still have questions about the November 2023 election?
The Arizona Secretary of State's Office provides contact information for election officials by county.
Maricopa County voters can reach their election officials at 602-506-1511.
All voters can contact the Arizona Secretary of State's Office at 1-877-THE-VOTE or 602-542-8683.
Reach the reporter Morgan Fischer at morgan.fischer@gannett.com or on X, formally known as Twitter, @morgfisch.
Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip to share on elections or voting? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County elections 2023: Here's what you should know
