Arizona begins in-person and absentee voting, here's what you need to know

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Arizona began early voting Wednesday, marking yet another major swing state where voting is underway in the 2024 election.

Just 26 days from Election Day, with Arizona now in the mix, 41 states and Washington, D.C., have launched some form of early voting.

Here is everything you need to know to cast your ballot in the state.

NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION HAS TO 'GET SERIOUS' ABOUT IMMIGRATION, SAY VOTERS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE

The 2024 election is officially underway in Arizona. (REUTERS/Joel Page)

Arizona is one of the most competitive states this cycle

President Biden scored a crucial victory in Arizona in the last presidential election, flipping the state to the Democrats for the first time since 1996.

Four years later, the state remains highly competitive. In late September, a Fox News Poll put Republican former President Trump at 50% and Democrat Vice President Harris at 47% among likely voters; an AARP survey around the same time had Trump two points ahead of Harris at 49%-47%.

Maricopa County remains the most important battleground in the state. It is the fourth-highest populated county in the United States, represents more than 60% of Arizona’s registered voters and has a large suburban population, particularly in Mesa.

Arizona is also home to a higher proportion of Hispanic voters than the rest of the country, and while they favored Biden by 19 points in the last election, they have shown signs of shifting toward Trump.

Republicans are strongest in sparsely populated rural areas, particularly Mohave County (Trump +51) and Graham County (Trump +45), but they run up the margin most in the outer suburbs and exurban areas in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties.

Arizona is a Toss Up on the Fox News Power Rankings.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks during a rally for Democrat presidential candidate Vice President Harris in Douglas, Arizona.

The Grand Canyon State will also vote for a new senator after independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema decided not to run for re-election this year. The Republican candidate is Kari Lake, a former TV news host who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022. The Democrats have fielded Rep. Ruben Gallego, a former Marine who represents Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District.

The Senate race is ranked Lean D.

Key downballot races in today’s early voting states

There are two competitive House districts in Arizona:

• 1st District: This district covers a northeast chunk of Maricopa and is represented by Republican Rep. David Schweikert, who has served Arizona in Congress since 2011. Biden won the area he represents by 1.5 points in the last presidential election (Dave’s Redistricting), making this an ultra-competitive race. Schweikert is up against Democrat and former state Rep. Amish Shah. It’s a Toss-up on the Power Rankings.
• 6th District: Tucked away in the southeast corner of the state, the 6th District is represented by freshman GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani. Biden won this area by an even thinner margin in 2020 – just 0.1 percentage points – making it another closely watched race. Ciscomani is running against Kirsten Engel, another Democrat former state representative. It’s also a Toss-up.

How to vote in Arizona

This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Arizona.

Voting by mail

Arizona began absentee voting on Monday. Residents do not need to provide an excuse in order to receive a ballot. State officials must receive a ballot request by Oct. 25 and that ballot must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5.

A sign directs voters to a ballot drop box for early voting outside the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix during the 2022 election.

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Early in-person voting

Arizona offers early in-person voting beginning Oct. 9 and running through Nov. 1.

Voter registration

Arizona residents were required to register to vote by Oct. 7.