Maricopa County to open eight voting centers for upcoming election

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors held an informal meeting on May 5, 2025, where they discussed the upcoming election and the implementation of in-person voting options. The board is recommending the approval of eight election day vote centers, which will be opened in phases leading up to the election.

The first vote center will open 27 days before the election at Avondale City Hall, which is conveniently located near a bus line and will be provided at no cost to the county. Following this, two additional vote centers will open on the Friday before election day, coinciding with the last day of early voting and emergency voting over the weekend. On election day, five locations will be available in Tolleson and Avondale.

The board anticipates a maximum turnout of just over 11,000 voters, with expectations that actual turnout will be much lower, likely only a couple thousand. This projection suggests that long lines are unlikely, with estimates indicating wait times of about 15 minutes at peak times.

Concerns were raised regarding potential issues at the voting locations, especially given the challenges faced in the 2022 election. The board assured that technical support will be on-site to address any problems that may arise, such as equipment malfunctions or printer issues. The vote center model allows voters to go to any open location, minimizing the impact of any single center experiencing difficulties.

Additionally, the board discussed the challenges of serving voters in rural areas, particularly in precincts with very few voters. Some precincts, like Bullard, have no suitable locations for voting, leading to plans for voters in those areas to cast their ballots at more accessible locations, even if it means traveling to a different congressional district.

The board plans to present a formal resolution listing all voting locations and their addresses at the next meeting, ensuring that voters have clear information ahead of the election.