A mailing vendor sent 3,126 Maricopa County early ballots to voters on Oct. 1, six days before their scheduled mailing date, but county officials say the ballots are valid and can be completed and returned normally.
The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office said it learned of the mistake Oct. 2, when Runbeck Election Services reported that a pallet of ballots had been released to the U.S. Postal Service early. The county’s normal early-ballot mailing date is Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The error affected the mailing date, not the ballot assignments. The Recorder’s Office statement says the correct ballots went to the correct voters.
What affected voters should do
Voters who received one of the early ballots do not need to request a replacement solely because it arrived ahead of schedule. They may complete and return it through the usual mail-ballot process.
After consulting with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, election officials determined that the ballots did not need to be voided or reissued. Any ballot returned before early voting begins will remain unopened and securely stored until processing starts, according to the Recorder’s Office.
Voters can monitor the status of a mailed ballot through BeBallotReady.Vote. Maricopa County’s election FAQ also allows voters to enroll in ballot-status text alerts by sending “JOIN” to 628-683.
Anyone with a damaged or missing ballot can request a replacement by calling the Recorder’s Office at 602-506-1511. The county lists Oct. 23 as the deadline to request a replacement ballot by mail. A replacement can also be issued in person at a vote center through 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
How the early mailing happened
According to the county statement, Runbeck told the Recorder’s Office that the 3,126 ballots had been processed separately from the main mailing because they did not qualify for automated USPS mail processing. The pallet was then included with mail released Oct. 1.
The Recorder’s Office said it did not authorize the early release and was notified afterward. Runbeck accepted responsibility and said it would work with the county to add controls intended to prevent another premature mailing.
The county has not published a geographic breakdown showing which cities or precincts received the early ballots. The incident may therefore include voters in West Valley communities, but no official record currently identifies a city-specific count.
Early voting begins Wednesday
Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Oct. 7. Vote centers will open in phases, with locations and hours available at Locations.Maricopa.Vote.
Maricopa County recommends mailing completed ballots back by Oct. 27 to allow enough delivery time. Ballots may also be returned at official drop boxes or vote centers, and they must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration. It is representative and is not an official ballot, election form or photograph of the mailing error.
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