PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Elections Department said it is hiring more temporary elections workers ahead of Election Day due to a record number of early votes returned in Arizona's largest county.
Wednesday morning, the Maricopa County Health Department sent out a message to prospective workers. The message states the recorder's office "URGENTLY needs additional help processing early ballots."
Last week, elections officials said they needed 786 temporary workers for this election but said they had 74 percent of that number.
“We are expecting heavy turnout this year, and so that's why we're really encouraging people to vote early," Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said at a press conference last week.
Voters have heeded that advice thus far. Tuesday, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer reported the county has received 1,095,632 ballots either via mail or at one of their voting centers.
“There are so many people voting early that they need a third shift, which is great news for us," Arizona GOP Chair, Gina Swoboda, tells 12News.
That third shift will run from midnight to 6 a.m. and will begin on Thursday night and into Friday morning. In addition, Maricopa County Deputy Elections Director Jennifer Liewer says county workers will help out with taking ballots out of their envelopes, inspecting them, and preparing them for tabulation.
In a statement, Liewer said:
"As predicted, the first two-page ballot since 2006 has affected election administration, especially for the hard-working bi-partisan boards who are separating the ballot pages from the affidavit envelopes. In addition to election workers already on staff, county workers are stepping up to assist with the process and beginning tomorrow night, shifts will be taking place around the clock at Maricopa’s tabulation center to support these efforts. Democracy is a team sport, and we are grateful for the hard-work and long hours that election and county workers will be doing in the coming days and weeks to ensure a smooth election."
Swoboda says people should still prepare for the possibility of long lines on Election Day, largely because of the two-page ballot. Voters are telling her it's taking them much longer than anticipated to fill it out.
“If they walk in and it's two pages and it's all those questions, it's taking some people 20 minutes. That's going to be a long line," Swoboda said.
Decision 2024
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