Early Voting Begins in Arizona for 2026 Midterms
PHOENIX — Early voting began Oct. 7 in Arizona's 2026 midterm elections, with mail ballots heading to voters on the state's permanent early voting list and in-person early voting locations opening across all 15 counties, azcentral reported.
Arizona voters can cast ballots early in person through Oct. 30, and counties opened early voting sites and secure ballot drop boxes statewide. Election officials urged voters to check their registration status, verify polling locations and return mail ballots early — by mail or at drop boxes — to ensure they are counted.
Arizona is once again among the most closely watched battlegrounds in the midterms, with competitive races for governor, the U.S. Senate and the state legislature drawing national attention and heavy spending. The state's election administration has been under intense scrutiny since 2020, and officials said they were prepared for high turnout and committed to transparent, secure elections.
Voter ID requirements remain in effect: voters casting ballots in person must show identification, and mail voters must provide identifying information on their ballot envelopes. Election officials reminded voters of key deadlines, including the last day to request a mail ballot and the cutoff for returning ballots.
County recorders reported strong early interest, with thousands of ballot requests already processed. Political observers say early voting patterns in Maricopa County — home to more than 60% of the state's voters — will offer the first clues about turnout and enthusiasm heading into Election Day on Nov. 3.
Related: America's Electoral System (4): The Midterms: What Is on the Ballot on November 3, 2026
Related: Early Voting in Ohio Shows Democratic Enthusiasm, Even in Trump Country
Related: Early In-Person Voting Begins Across Ohio, Lines Form Before Dawn
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：亚利桑那州议会大厦。摄影：w_lemay，CC BY-SA 2.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
