TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Friday is the last chance to vote early in person, before emergency voting, and election officials want to make sure everyone in Pima County knows their options.

With just five days until Election Day, Pima County officials are not only encouraging people to get out and vote, but they’re also giving some advice on how to do so. to save time when you go to the pollsstarting with voting early.

“The best solution if you want to avoid these wait times is to go to an early voting site,” said Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly.

However, Cázares-Kelly said some locations, like the downtown Tucson voting site, can sometimes see hour-long lines.

But she’s sure that’s nothing compared to what the lines should look like on Election Day.

Pima County Communications Director Mark Evans told 13 News they expect about 10 to 20 percent of Pima County voters to turn out on Nov. 5.

But with one of the longest ballots he’s seen in decades, Evans said the voting process could take longer, impacting wait times.

“It used to take voters 10 minutes to vote, it might take them 15 minutes now,” Evans said.

According to the Pima County Recorders Office, more than 300,000 voters in the county cast early ballots.

From Thursday, Cázares Kelly said they have collected more ballots at their 18 early voting sites than in the 2020 election, and there are still days to go.

Most early voting locations will also be used for emergency voting, which Cázares-Kelly said is essentially the same as early voting.

Cázares-Kelly said that when it comes to wait times for early voting, she hopes voters communicate with their bosses to make sure they can make time to vote, early or Tuesday.

“Choosing between their job and participating in one of our most fundamental rights in our democracy should not be in question,” she said.

When it comes to Election Day, Evans said having a plan is the best way to be effective.

He also advises voters to study their sample ballots to speed up the voting process.

And when you get ready to head to the polls on Tuesday, you can head to Pima County. website to find the shortest lines.

“He’ll tell you, oh, in this voting center, it’s a 25 to 30 minute wait,” Evans. “Well, if you find another voting center nearby and it says you have to wait five minutes, maybe go to that one and you’ll know you won’t have that long to wait. “

Evans added that as long as you are in line before 7 p.m. Tuesday, you will be allowed to vote.

He also asked everyone to be patient with the results, as it will take them a few days to process all the ballots.

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