Early in-person voting begins in Arizona, drawing visits from the Presidential campaigns

In-person voting begins in Arizona, drawing presidential candidates and increasing security measures amid close race.

Early in-person voting begins Wednesday (October 9, 2024) in Arizona, making it the first of this year's Presidential battleground States where all residents can cast a ballot at a traditional polling place ahead of Election Day.

The start of in-person voting in the closely contested State also drawing the presidential tickets, with both campaigns scheduling visits there this week.

Wednesday's voting overlaps with campaign stops by both Vice Presidential nominees — Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican — who will hold separate events in Tucson on Wednesday (October 9).

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, is scheduled to host a rally in Phoenix on Thursday, while former President Donald Trump will hold one Sunday in Prescott Valley, a Republican stronghold about 144 kilometres north of Phoenix.

President Joe Biden defeated Trump by just 10,457 votes in 2020, a narrow margin that set off years of misinformation and conspiracy theories among Republicans who refused to acknowledge Biden's win. It also has led to threats and harassment of election workers, prompting some election offices to boost security for their workers and polling place volunteers.

In Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, some schools have declined to serve as polling locations, citing harassment of workers and other safety concerns.

“Early voting, particularly by mail, has long been popular in Arizona, where nearly 80% voted before Election Day in 2020,” according to the Secretary of State’s Office.