Elections Gets New Casa, Primary Ballots out July 3rd
VIA SBINSIDER FLORENCE REPORTER MARILYN CHAMBERS| June 23rd, 2024
After a disastrous 2020 primary election, the Pinal County Board fired the election director and contracted with Virginia Ross to oversee the General Election. Ross resigned her elective position as Recorder to take on the task. While not 100% perfect, the results are considered to be reliable and no candidate stepped up to sue. (All the lawsuits were filed in Maricopa County.)
In response to the problems the Pinal Board voted to erect a new building in Florence for elections. This is a huge upgrade to an outdated, cramped space that was partly to blame for the problems from the primary. It was christened last week by Dana Lewis County Recorder and Election Director. (Lewis is running unopposed this November.)
According to Pinal Central reporting:
After a 15-month construction period, the $31 million project was completed on time and on budget for the July 30 primary election. The name is an acronym for Voter Operations Technology Election Services.
The 53,000-square-foot building at 320 W. Adamsville Road in Florence replaces a 12,000-square-foot office in Coolidge, and for the first time houses the Elections Department, voter registration, early voting and voter outreach in one location.
SaddleBrooke’s’ own Board representative Jeff McClure, who had a long career in manufacturing was hands-on in the design and build out process.
MAIL IN PRIMARY BALLOTING BEGINS SOON
Dana Lewis announced that mail-in ballots will hit the Post Office on July 3rd. The day of voting is July 30th. Lewis strongly urged all voters who receive a mail-in ballot to send it in as soon as possible. “Please do not take your mail-in ballot to the polls on election day. All ballots dropped off must have signature verification and if you wait, it slows down the results we can post on election night.”
You can also drop off ballots at several locations. For SaddleBrooke, the closest drop location is in Oracle. CLICK THIS LINK FOR DIRECTIONS
