Expect smooth election by mail, says Pima Recorder

County has 20 years experience with mail ballots

WILL CAST THEIR BALLOTS THISNOVEMBER -- THROUGH THE MAIL.THE PIMA COUNTY RECORDER SAYS-- SHE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANINFLUX OF MAIL-IN BALLOTSBOGGING DOWN THE LOCAL POSTALSYSTEM.

THAT'S BECAUSE PIMACOUNTY VOTERS HAVE BEENCASTING THEIR BALLOTS BY MAIL-- FOR YEARS.

HERE'S NINE ONYOUR SIDE'S CRAIG SMITH."YOU KNOW, WE HAVE VOTERSCALLING RIGHT NOW.

THEY'REREADY TO VOTE RIGHT NOW THEYWANT TO GET THIS OVER." 7:15BUT PIMA COUNTY RECORDER F.ANN RODRIGUEZ SAYS THEY'LLHAVE TO BE PATIENT UNTIL EARLYOCTOBER.

SHE SAYS THE NEED TOVERIFY SIGNATURES ON SOMEVOTER PROPOSITIONS MEAN THEBALLOT WON'T BE AVAILABLEUNTIL THEN.

SHE THINKS OTHERPARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE MOREREASON TO WORRY ABOUT COVIDCONCERNS AND AN OVERSTRESSEDPOSTAL SERVICE JAMMING UP VOTEBY MAIL SYSTEMS. RODRIGUEZSAYS THOSE PLACES DO NOT HAVEPIMA COUNTY'S 20 YEARS OFEXPERIENCE WITH VOTING BYMAIL.

13:29 "WE HAVE TOREMEMBER 80% OF THE VOTERS WHOVOTE IN PIMA COUNTY ALREADYVOTE BY MAIL." 13:35 SO EVENIF EVERYONE IN PIMA COUNTYVOTES BY MAIL THAT ONLY RAISESTHE WORKLOAD BY 20 PERCENT FORA SYSTEM THAT'S BUSIER--- BUTNOT BREAKING DOWN.

RODRIGUEZIS CONCERNED ABOUT VOTERSREGISTERED IN PIMA COUNTY WHOMAY BE MAILING ABSENTEEBALLOTS FROM OUT OF STATE,ESPECIALLY WITH THE MAILSYSTEM LOADED DOWN WITHCAMPAIGN ADVERTISING.RODRIGUEZ SAYS IT'LL HELP TOMAIL THE BALLOT AS SOON AS YOUCAN.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUTYOUR BALLOT ARRIVING IN TIMEYOU COULD USE SOMETHING OTHERTHAN THE POSTAL SERVICE.

6:35...OR THEY'LL HAVE TO PAY ALITTLE BIT MORE MONEY AND SENDIT, FEDEX, UPS OVERNIGHTSPECIAL DELIVERY OR ANY OFTHOSE OTHER THIRD PARTYSERVICES THAT WILL GUARANTEETHAT I'LL GET HERE EARLIER."6:46 RODRIGUEZ SAYS MAKE SUREYOUR REGISTRATION AND ADDRESSARE CURRENT AND UNDERSTAND YOUNEED TO GIVE THE RECORDER'SOFFICE ANY TEMPORARY ORPERMANENT ADDRESS CHANGE.

JUSTTELLING THE POST OFFICE IS NOTENOUGH BECAUSE OF THREE WORDSON THAT OFFICIAL ELECTIONMAIL.

8:30: "IT SAYS, RETURNSERVICE REQUESTED.

THIS IS AREQUIREMENT BY FEDERAL LAW FORANYTHING DEALING WITH VOTING."8:37 AND THAT MEANS IF YOU DONOT GIVE THE RECORDER YOURCURRENT ADDRESS THE BALLOTDOES NOT FORWARD IT JUSTBOUNCES BACK TO HER OFFICE.CRAIG SMITH, KGUN9 ON YOURSIDE