Arizona

Your rights at the polls guide

Your Rights Under Federal Law

  • All voters have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, national origin, or disability.
  • All voters have the right to vote free of intimidation.
  • All voters who need assistance by reason of disability or inability to read and write in the language of the ballot may choose someone to assist them to vote, as long as the person is not an agent/representative of the voter’s employer or union.

Your Rights When You Check-In To Vote

Challenges CANNOT be brought by out-of-state observers. A qualified voter in your county is allowed to challenge your right to vote but you can only be challenged as to the following things.
  • Your identity (including age and citizenship status)
  • Your residence
  • Whether you are ineligible to vote as a result of a felony conviction or incapacity
  • Whether you have already voted in the election.

A challenger must provide clear and convincing evidence to show that you are ineligible to vote for one of the above reasons.

Challenges are decided by election boards. Election boards are generally made up of a marshal, two judges, and a number of election clerks, which may vary by precinct.

After a challenge, you have the right to:

  • Cast a regular ballot if you take an oath swearing you are qualified, answer the questions about voter qualifications under oath, and if a majority of the election board finds the challenge invalid.
  • Cast a provisional ballot if a majority of the election board finds the challenge valid, or if you refuse to take the oath and answer the questions.

Q&A: Your Rights at The Polling Place

01. What can a poll worker ask me?
The elections officer will ask you to present your ID and tell them your full name and address.
02. Who can I speak to if I am having any issues or problems with a poll worker?
Attempt to inform another poll worker of your issue. If this does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection. You may also contact county election officials if speaking to another poll worker does not resolve the issue. You can also report any incidents regarding voter intimidation to the Secretary of State’s Office or call 1-877-THE-VOTE.
03. I notice some poll watchers are taking photographs inside the polling place. Is that allowed?

No photography or video recording is allowed in a polling place.

04. Who gets to decide who is inside the polling place?
Arizona law allows the following people to be inside the polling place:
  • Election officials, including members of the election board
  • A person selected by a voter to assist them with voting
  • Minors accompanying a voter
  • Authorized political party observers.
Voters must move outside the 75-foot limit around the polling place after they finish voting.
05. Who can I talk to if someone is trying to get in the way of me completing my ballot?
Speak to the election inspector or marshal. They have the authority to remove disruptive people from the voting location and to decide whether to contact law enforcement or the officer in charge of elections. If that does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
06. What are my rights if I need help voting?
Voters are entitled to assistance. If a voter has a disability that requires assistance to vote, the voter may bring a person of their choice to help them vote. The person providing assistance may not be a candidate for office or the voter’s union representative or employer. A voter may ask a member of the election board to assist them with voting. A voter may designate a family member, household member, or caregiver to assist them in returning an early or mail-in ballot.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Arizona legal professional. Updated August 2024. Contact Fair Elections Center at
info@fairelection.codpixels.com

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.
  • Call in English: 866-OUR-VOTE
  • CALL in Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
  • Call in Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE
  • CALL in Arabic: 844-YALLA-US

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