BISBEE — The Cochise County Elections Office will begin holding public information meetings next week throughout the county.
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In order to register to vote, a resident of the county must provide some form of photo identification — a driver’s license, non-operating identification license, tribal enrollment card, valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued identification card.
Without a photo identification card, a resident is required to provide at least two of the following: utility bill dated within 90 days of the date of the election, bank or credit union statement dated within 90 days of the date of the election, valid Arizona vehicle registration, Indian census card, property tax statement or a recorder’s certificate.
As of June, Cochise County had 66,152 registered voters.
Of that figure, 25,813 are Republicans, 22,171 are Democrats, 17,805 are listed as “other,” 247 are Libertarians and 116 county residents registered as members of the Green Party, according to the state election Web site.
Tom Schelling, county election official, said this will be the second time the county has offered the informational meetings.
The first series was held before the 2006 primary election.
The informational meeting will give voters the chance to learn about the ballots, how to mark them and what to do with the ballots after they have been marked and completed.
Election Systems & Software optical scan M100 machines are used to tabulate the ballots at each precinct in Cochise County, Schelling said.
For disabled voters who may have difficulty marking their own ballots, an ES&S AutoMARK touchscreen device is at each precinct.
“The election program is thoroughly tested in-house by staff working with the county IT Department,” Schelling noted.
“An independent testing of the voting equipment is conducted by the secretary of state prior to each election.
A representative from the political parties is invited to participate in the testing of the equip- ment.
After the election, the political parties are involved with a hand count of randomly selected precincts and offices to again check the accuracy of the M100’s.”
“There is no set discussion at the meetings, we are there to answer questions and demonstrate the equipment,” Schelling said.
Viverto said, “We’ve invited candidates as well as party representatives to be available for one-on-one interactions with the voting public.”
Viverto and Schelling say while they do not know which candidates will show up at which location, there will be someone from each political party there to answer questions.
The Elections Office still needs more volunteers to work the polls for both the primary and general elections.
“We have received a very good response from the excellent article that the Herald ran a few weeks ago, and we are still working on setting up the election boards,” Schelling said.
To become a poll worker or find out information, call 432-8972 or sign up online at cochise.az.gov and click on the “Elections/Special Districts” link.
Voters open houses held by the Cochise County Elections Office:
• Tuesday, 6 p.m. in the Ethel Berger Center, 2950 E. Tacoma St., Sierra Vista.
• Wednesday, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sunsites Community Center, 1270 Treasure Road, Sunsites.
• July 24, 4 to 6 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church on Arizona Street in the Warren District, Bisbee.
• July 25, 6 p.m. at Elfrida Community Center, 10550 N. Highway 191, Elfrida.
• July 28, 4 to 6 p.m. at Gadsden Hotel Banquet Room, 1046 G Ave., Douglas.
• July 29, 6 p.m. at Benson council chambers, 120 Sixth St., Benson.
• July 30, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Schieffelin Hall, 402 Fremont St., Tombstone.
• July 31, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Whetstone fire station, 2422 N. Firehouse Lane, Whetstone.
• Aug.1, 4 to 6 p.m. at Willcox City Hall, Suite A, 101 S. Railroad Ave., Willcox.
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