Phoenix (AZ Family) — In Arizona’s High Country, election offices are grappling with distance and rural challenges ahead of next week’s election.
Coconino County is the largest county in the state and the second largest county in the Lower 48 (plus D.C.), covering more than 18,600 square miles.
On Election Day, votes will be cast from as far away as Page, Williams, and even the Spy Village of the Grand Canyon.
Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen says she’s doing her best just days after the election.
“Presidential elections are difficult in and of themselves because you’re so busy during the election period, but we want people to vote,” Hansen said.
Of course, distance is a major hurdle when holding elections over such a large geographic area.
“Land size is the biggest challenge for the United States,” Hansen said. “The challenge is we can’t expect people to drive hours to get to an early polling place or polling place.”
“But you also can’t mail your early ballot to an interpreter,” Hansen said.
Mobile voting centers with interpreters have been deployed to the Navajo Nation. In Grand Canyon, Hansen said the county is sending two employees by helicopter to help Supai on election day.
“They work with tribal members to conduct elections and use helicopters to conduct elections.” [the ballots] “I’ll be there first thing Wednesday,” she said.
Addressing misinformation is also a challenge across Coconino County.
The Recorder’s Office had to post a notice on social media to dispel rumors that ballots that were not 100% filled out would not be counted. Hansen said it’s also difficult to dispel misinformation people hear on social media, but he encourages them to contact the office.
“I would encourage those people to call me. We will actually explain what’s going on and we have a party monitor in our office right now,” she said.
Regarding early voting, Hansen said that at this point in 2020, 54% of early votes had already been returned, but this year that number has dropped to about 44%.
She believes Arizona’s long, two-page, double-sided ballots are part of the reason for the low turnout at this point, and she encourages people to bring sample ballots to speed up in-person voting. I am proposing.
“And before you go to the polls, you should know how you want to vote,” Hansen said.
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