Thousands of Chandler and Tempe voters will get two ballots in March

Registered Democrats in Tempe and Chandler who are on the permanent early voting list will get two ballots in the mail for the March elections.

Ballots for the March 10 Tempe City Council and mayoral election and Chandler’s special election will be mailed to all registered voters beginning Feb. 12.

Registered Democrats on the permanent early voting list in those cities will receive a second ballot for the March 17 Democratic presidential preference election a week later on Feb. 19.

Keep your ballots straight

Maricopa County Elections Department staff urges voters to ensure that they send back their ballots for the two elections in the right envelope and by the deadline for each corresponding election.

Ballots for the Tempe and Chandler city elections must be mailed back in the envelope with the black stripe and election officials must receive those ballots by 7 p.m. on March 10 for the vote to count.

The presidential preference election ballot must be sent back in the envelope with the red stripe by 7 p.m. March 17.

This will affect about 66,000 registered Democrats in Tempe and Chandler, county elections staff said.

What’s on the two ballots?

Tempe voters will elect a mayor and three council members in March.

Seven candidates —ranging from incumbents to a rocker who’s a fixture in the local music scene — will be on the ballot.

Mayor Mark Mitchell, who ran unopposed in 2016, will face off against former council colleague Corey Woods.

Five others are vying for three open council seats: Incumbents Randy Keating and Joel Navarro and firsttime candidates Casey Clowes, Doreen Garlid and Marc Norman.

In Chandler, voters will be asked to approve a charter change that will push up the date of the city’s August primary from the end of the month to the first Tuesday in August.

A new state law requires that begin

ning this year the primary election be held on the first Tuesday in August. The proposed amendment to the Chandler City Charter seeks to conform to the city’s election date to the new statemandated date.

Both elections will be conducted by mail. Ballots will be sent to all registered voters beginning Feb. 12. The last day to register to vote is Feb. 10.

How to participate in the presidential preference election

Only registered Democrats will be allowed to participate in the March 17 Democratic presidential preference election, which is like a primary election but for president.

Independent voters and voters who are registered as members of other parties can’t participate.

Republicans won’t have a primary election as the state Republican Party is expected to nominate incumbent President Donald Trump without holding a presidential preference election.

Ballots will be mailed to Democrats on the permanent early voting list beginning Feb. 19. Democrats who are not on the early voting list will not receive a ballot and can vote in person on election day.

Voters can check their early voting ballot status on the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office website.

The last day to register to vote for the presidential preference election is Feb. 18.

Where to drop off ballots

Voters can request replacement ballots or drop off their ballots at four voting centers.

Voters participating in the Tempe mayoral and council election can drop off their ballot or request a replacement at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave.

The center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays between March 2 through March 10 and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day.

A drop box also will be set up at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St. Ballots can be dropped there from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays until March 10.

Chandler voters participating in the special election can drop off their ballot or request a replacement between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays from March 2 through March 9 at Chandler City Hall, 175 S. Arizona Ave. The voting center will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 10.

Voters in both cities can drop off their ballots for the city election at two county voting sites from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays from March 2 through March 9 and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 10.

❚ Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center, 510 S. Third Ave.

❚ Maricopa County Recorder’s Southeast Mesa Office, 222 E. Javelina Ave.

Residents can register to vote or update their existing registration online at servicearizona.com or on Maricopa County website.