During a recent government meeting, Pinal County officials provided updates on the ongoing election process, emphasizing the importance of voter engagement and addressing concerns regarding voting procedures. The Curing team is currently processing approximately 300 affidavits related to early ballots, focusing on issues such as missing ballots and signature mismatches. Officials urged voters to respond promptly to outreach efforts to ensure their ballots are counted efficiently.
As of the meeting, Pinal County has issued over 210,000 early ballots, with nearly 115,000 accepted. The early voting turnout has reached a record high, with nearly 12,000 individuals voting in person during the early voting period. Officials expressed gratitude to the community for their participation and highlighted the competitive spirit among local precincts, noting that Saddle Brook has achieved over 75% early voting participation.
County Attorney Kent Walker addressed concerns regarding recent litigation and public criticism of the county's voting methods. He clarified that Pinal County employs a precinct voting system, which requires voters to cast their ballots at designated locations. This approach differs from many other counties that allow voters to choose any polling place. Walker defended the board's decision to maintain this system for election integrity, countering claims that it disenfranchises voters. He reassured the public that assistance is available for those who may arrive at the wrong precinct.
The meeting concluded with a reminder that the first set of election results will be posted around 8 PM on election night, with subsequent updates provided hourly as ballots are counted.