VOTER IDENTIFICATION AT THE POLLS

Before receiving a ballot at the polling place on election day, every voter will now be required to show proof of identity.  This new requirement is a result of Proposition 200, the statewide initiative approved by voters in 2004. 

ACCEPTABLE IDENTIFICATION

Following are the only types of identification that are acceptable and that can be used when voting at a polling place on election day.  All identification must match the voter’s name and address shown on the Maricopa County Elections signature roster. 

 1.         PHOTO identification with voter’s name and address – ONE REQUIRED

  • Valid Arizona driver’s license

  • Valid Arizona non-operating identification license

  • Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification

  • Valid United States, federal, state or local government issued identification

                                              ------ OR -----

2.         NON-PHOTO identification with voter’s name and address – TWO REQUIRED

  • Utility bill dated within ninety (90) days of the election.  A utility bill may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cellular phone or cable TV.

  • Bank or credit union statement dated within ninety (90) days of the election.

  • Valid Arizona Vehicle Registration

  • Indian Census Card

  • Property Tax Statement of the voter’s residence

  • Tribal Enrollment Card or other form of tribal identification

  • Vehicle Insurance Card

  • Voter Registration Card or Recorder’s Certificate

  • Valid United States federal, state or local government issued identification

  • Any “Official Election Material” mailing bearing the voter’s name and address

CHECK AND UPDATE YOUR IDENTIFICATION NOW

Voters are encouraged to plan ahead and make sure that their IDs will be acceptable on election day.

ü      For photo IDs, make sure that the photo still actually looks like you.  

ü      Make sure that the name and address on the ID is current and matches the Maricopa County Elections signature roster.  Call 602-506-1511 to verify that information. 

ü      Be aware that if more than one person lives at your address, then only the person whose name actually appears on the utility bill will be able to use that utility bill for identification purposes.

PROVISIONAL BALLOTS

If the voter does not have acceptable identification at the polling place on election day, then a provisional or "conditional" provisional ballot can be voted.  The "conditional" provisional ballot will only be counted if the voter brings acceptable identification to the City Clerk or the Maricopa County Recorder by 5 p.m. on the Friday after the election. 

On the three days following the election, the City Clerk’s Office will set up booths at the Tempe Public Library and at the City Clerk's Office, 2nd Floor of Tempe City Hall for the purpose of checking voter identification for "conditional" provisional ballots.  Hours for checking ID: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Friday following the election. 

NO ID REQUIREMENT FOR EARLY BALLOTS

Although voter identification is now required to obtain a ballot at the polls on election day, voter ID is NOT required for early ballots. This is because the voter’s original signature on the back of each early ballot is individually checked against the official version of the voter’s signature that is on file with the Maricopa County Elections Department.  If the signatures do not match, then the early ballot is not counted.