Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Coconino County elections officials brief Page council on Nov. 5 ballot, outreach and staffing plans
Summary
County elections staff told Page council they expect a long, two-page ballot in some Page precincts with as many as 37 contests, outlined voter-registration and early-voting deadlines and said vote-center staffing, tabulation and outreach efforts are in place to reduce Election Day bottlenecks.
Coconino County Elections Director Esler Musta told the Page City Council on Sept. 25 that the county is preparing for a complex Nov. 5 general election and urged residents to register by Oct. 7. "There are only 40 days left till election day," Esler Musta said, and staff emphasized the importance of early registration and voter education.
The county warned that Page precincts will see a two-page ballot this year and that some ballots include as many as 37 contests. "This is a 19-inch ballot that is pretty long and busy on both sides," Esler Musta said, noting the added time voters may need to review choices. Assistant Director Whitney Usack said the county is directing voters to its website for timely information and running an outreach campaign under the slogan "Vote 2024: understand and make a plan." "Knowing how you'll vote — mail, early in-person, or on Election Day — will help prevent bottlenecks," Usack said.
Why it matters: The council and county staff framed the election as logistically demanding for this rural county — Coconino is geographically large and Page precincts' multi-page ballots raise the risk of longer lines. County presenters described staffing, training, troubleshooting teams and a vote-center model intended to let Page-area voters cast ballots at multiple county sites without changing residency status.
Key details from the briefing: county staff said early ballots will be mailed beginning Oct. 9; early voting runs through Nov. 1 (to 7 p.m.); and Election Day is Nov. 5 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The county's tabulation schedule aims for about 90% of ballots counted by the Friday after Election Day and to finish canvassing with curing deadlines around Nov. 11. Valerie Hunter, the Page vote-center inspector, was recognized for local work supporting operations.
County staff also outlined outreach and support: additional public Q&A events and a session at the community college, dedicated training for poll workers and on-call troubleshooters and plans for ballot-on-demand and ExpressVote equipment. "If you hear of an issue on Election Day, call our office," Esler Musta said; he noted county partnerships with the county attorney and Secretary of State for complaint response and, if needed, recount procedures.
Next steps: County staff set up a Q&A room immediately after the meeting and invited council and residents to follow up. The county reiterated that October 7 is the final registration date to ensure full participation in the Nov. 5 election.
