The Arizona Republic

Things to know before you go vote.

- Jen Fifield

Poll workers say there are a few things voters should know — beyond who their favorites are — before they go to the polls.

❚ Double-check your correct polling place: Brittney Johnson, training coordinato­r for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, said voters can find the correct place to go by putting in their address into a search on the Recorder’s Office website at recorder.maricopa.gov/pollingpla­ce. Or, they can vote at one of 40 vote centers set up across the county. Check recorder.maricopa.gov/pdf/vote centermap.pdf for these places.

❚ You need ID to cast a ballot: Under state law, Arizonans need to show photo identifica­tion with their name, photo and current address to cast a ballot. The Recorder’s Office website has details about what identifica­tion is required.

❚ Ballots cast at vote centers are counted: Voters are sometimes concerned that provisiona­l ballots or early ballots won’t counted, said Joanne Tillson, who trains poll workers and will help solve problems on Election Day. The county is required to count every legitimate ballot it receives, which includes all early ballots and provisiona­l ballots. Whether those are counted on Election Day or in the days following, they will eventually be counted.

❚ Poll workers will monitor, not hover: A poll worker should be there to assist voters, Tillson and Johnson said, but shouldn’t be doing anything for them unless they need help.

❚ Expect a little bit of a wait: Voters will face a double-sided ballot with lots of choices today, said Anita Aguilar, a trainer for the recorder’s office. For that reason, a line might form, Aguilar said. Poll workers will track lines at polling places every hour. If there’s a really long line, they’re instructed to tell other election staff, called troublesho­oters, who should bring more help or equipment.

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