PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. — In-person Pinal County voters could risk their vote not counting if they don't vote in their corresponding precinct.
The Arizona Supreme Court recently rejected an injunction request from the Secretary of State for Pinal County to make changes based on the state's Elections Procedure Manual (EPM).
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said based on the EPM, ballot marking devices set aside for people with disabilities, should allow any voter from any precinct within the county to cast their ballot.
"The rules in the law in Arizona require that the ballot marking devices in every polling place in the state allow for any voter from any precinct to vote within their county but to vote in any ballot," Fontes said. "That's in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and things of this nature."
However, the Arizona Supreme Court determined granting the injunction would create an "unacceptable risk of chaos, uncertainty, and confusion in this election."
"Anytime you have to retrain all of your poll workers, recommunicate to your voter population, or reprogram equipment, that's not the good place to be," Dana Lewis, Pinal County Recorder said. "That's when errors can happen and it can create a little bit of chaos and confusion."
Lewis explained that making changes could technically change their voting model from precinct-based to voting-center-based which goes against state statute.
"It really comes down to statute, Lewis said. "The Board of Supervisors for Pinal County under Title 16-411, states that they have the authority to direct what vote model we are going to be. and the resolution says that we're a precinct-based."
Lewis said the county actively works to communicate with voters so they know where to vote. Lewis then explained that voters who show up at the wrong precinct would be redirected to their corresponding precinct.
"If you choose to vote out of precinct on Election Day because your ballot is not going to be the correct ballot, then that would be one of the reasons that that provisional ballot would not be accepted," Lewis said.
Based on all factors, Pinal County election officials and the Secretary of State urge voters in Pinal County to find out their designated voting precinct for their vote to count.
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