Number of early mail-in ballots returned breaks record in Pima County

More than a quarter of a million Pima County voters have returned their mail-in ballots, setting a record in terms of participation.

Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez confirmed Friday that her office has received more than 265,000 early ballots — or about 71 percent — of the roughly 373,000 early ballots sent out.

This figure beats the last record set during the 2012 general election, when voters returned 255,841 early ballots, or roughly 80 percent.

The record benefits from a sizable increase in the number of registered voters who requested early ballots in Pima County — up roughly 59,000 from four years ago.

With thousands or even tens of thousands of mail-in ballots still expected to be returned, it is possible the percentage of early ballots returned will surpass 80 percent.

Bill Beard, the chairman of the Pima County Republican Party, said there has been a strong interest in this year’s election because of the presidential election.

“There is a very strong motivation in this year’s election, especially on the Republican side,” Beard said.

The county Republican Party has been active for several weeks in terms of encouraging voters to return their ballots, manning a volunteer-run phone bank as well as knocking on doors to advocate for GOP candidates.

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“It has been very encouraging,” Beard said about the number of early ballots being returned.

Jo Holt, the chairwoman of the Pima County Democratic Party, said the party has had an “unprecedented” get-out-the-vote effort statewide.

Hispanics, she said, have registered to vote in large numbers this year.

“The Latino community is waking up, and I think that they are beginning to understand that they can vote,” she said.

One Arizona, a group focused on helping register Latinos to vote, has claimed it has registered 150,000 new voters in the state and focused heavily on the Latino community.

The group partnered with a similiar group here in Tucson, Mi Familia Vota, to register voters.

Those who still have their mail-in ballot can drop them off at emergency voting locations operated by the Pima County Recorder’s Office on Saturday, Nov. 5, or Monday, Nov. 7 (see locations in story in the Tucson & Region section).

Any polling location on Tuesday will also take early ballots.