Registered to vote in Arizona? 6 things to know, starting with the Oct. 11 deadline

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Political signs are posted on street corners, and campaign ads have overtaken the airwaves.

It's officially election season, and if you wish to cast a ballot in the Nov. 8 general election, you'll need to get registered soon. The Arizona voter registration deadline for this election is Oct. 11, a little less than a month before Election Day.

This year is a midterm election cycle, so one of Arizona's U.S. Senate seats and all of its seats in the U.S. House are up for grabs.

Statewide, Arizonans will elect a governor, secretary of state, attorney general, schools superintendent and state legislators. Voters also will elect members of the Arizona Corporation Commission and determine the fate of 10 ballot measures.

Locally, there are municipal contests in Phoenix, Peoria, Scottsdale, Gilbert and Mesa. School board seats also are up for grabs. 

Here's everything you need to know to get registered and ready to cast a ballot.

How do I register to vote in Arizona?

You can register to vote online, by mail or in person. 

If you have your Arizona driver's license or state identification card, you can register online via the Service Arizona portal.

Otherwise, you'll need to print a voter registration form and return it once completed. Remember to include proof of citizenship.

You can return the form by mail or drop it off. If you're a Maricopa County voter, the Elections Department offers a 24-hour secure elections drop box outside its headquarters at 510 S. Third Ave., Phoenix.

If you don't have access to a printer, your county election officials can provide you with a form to fill out in person.

After you register to vote, you'll receive a voter registration card in the mail within four to six weeks.

How do I prove citizenship when I register to vote?

Arizona is the only state in the U.S. that requires proof of citizenship in addition to a signed affidavit when you register to vote in state elections. You must be an American citizen to vote in all states, but most only require voters to sign an affidavit attesting that they are U.S. citizens under the penalty of perjury.

Acceptable documents to prove citizenship include:

• Arizona driver's license.
• Arizona non-operating identification card.
• Passport.
• U.S. naturalization documents.
• Birth certificate.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs or tribal identification card.

You are not required to submit proof of citizenship if you use the federal voter registration form, but failure to do so means you will only be eligible to vote in federal contests. You will not be able to vote a full ballot. There are more than 2.4 million registered voters in Maricopa County, of which 13,684 are active "federal-only" voters, according to the Maricopa County Recorder's Office.

How will new election laws affect voter registration for the general election?

Two laws passed by the Arizona Legislature earlier this year could impact voter registration in future election cycles but won't change anything leading up to November.

House Bill 2243, sponsored by Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, requires county officials to attempt to confirm any information they receive that a voter registration isn't valid. It was supposed to take effect Sept. 24 but was delayed by a federal judge after civil rights groups argued the effective date would allow enough time to "purge voters" just before the start of early voting in October. 

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ordered that no action can be taken on the law until at least Jan. 1, 2023, clarifying that the injunction later may be lengthened.

Another new law, House Bill 2492, requires federal-only voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. If they do not, they will not be eligible to vote in presidential races or vote by mail. That law also doesn't take effect until next year.

Where can I check my voter registration status?

If you're a Maricopa County voter, you can check your status at BeBallotReady.Vote. That portal also allows you to access your voter dashboard, learn about upcoming elections and find voting locations.

All Arizonans can check their voter registration using the state's Voter Information Portal.

To access your voter registration information, you must provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number. The state portal also allows you to use your tribal identification card number.

I just moved. Do I need to update my voter registration?

Yes, you must update your voter registration with your new address.

You'll also need to update your voter registration if your name has been legally changed or if you wish to change your political party affiliation.

To do so, you'll need to use the Service Arizona portal or fill out a new voter registration form.

If I have other questions, who should I contact?

The Arizona Secretary of State's Office maintains a database of contact information for election officials by county.

If you're a Maricopa County voter, you can reach your election officials at 602-506-1511.

All voters can contact the Arizona Secretary of State's Office at 1-877-THE-VOTE or 602-542-8683.

Sasha Hupka covers Maricopa County and regional issues for The Arizona Republic with a focus on voting and democracy. Do you have a tip about elections or questions about voting? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.