The Final Stretch: Democracy Needs Every One of Us

We are entering the final days before the November 3 General Election, and the urgency of this moment cannot be overstated.

For months, the League of Women Voters of Arizona, our local Leagues, and our community partners have worked tirelessly to prepare voters for this election. We have developed and distributed nonpartisan voter education materials, provided information about ballot propositions, promoted VOTE411, monitored legislation affecting voting rights, and worked with our partners to protect access to the ballot.

But all that preparation brings us to this defining moment: Will we, as League members, step forward and do everything we can to help voters exercise their rights?
 The answer must be a resounding YES.

The Numbers Tell Us Why We Must Act

More than three million early ballots have been mailed to Arizona voters. Yet, as of October 19, ballot returns remain concerning, particularly among younger voters and women.

Approximately 675,000 ballots were mailed to voters ages 18–34, but only about 32,000 had been returned. Among voters ages 35–49, fewer than 50,000 of the approximately 626,000 mailed ballots were returned. Women voters had returned approximately 243,500 of the 1.4 million ballots mailed to them. These figures are a snapshot from October 19 and will change as more ballots are returned. But they underscore an important reality: receiving a ballot is not the same as casting a vote.

We cannot assume that voters have the information, confidence, or encouragement they need to complete the process. Sometimes a simple reminder, a brief conversation, or help finding reliable information can make the difference between intending to vote and actually voting.

This Newsletter Is Filled with Opportunities to Act

In this issue of Advocacy & Action, we are asking members to respond to several urgent calls for volunteers.

Get Out the Vote. Our most immediate priority is recruiting volunteers for LWVAZ's nonpartisan texting campaign through League in Action. You can participate from home, using your smartphone, to remind voters to return their ballots and make a plan to vote. We are also sharing opportunities to join phone banks with the Arizona Democracy Resource Center and postcard-writing sessions organized by One Arizona. Whether you have thirty minutes or several hours, we need your help.

Protect the Vote. Through our partnership with Election Protection Arizona, we are recruiting nonpartisan poll monitors across the state. These trained volunteers observe voting locations, document concerns, report potential barriers, and help voters connect with appropriate assistance. No prior experience is necessary; training and support are provided. We especially encourage members to help recruit young people, including eligible high school and college students, for this important work.

Empower Voters Through VOTE411. Some candidates have still not responded to their VOTE411 questionnaires, despite repeated invitations and reminders. We need members willing to make a few calls and encourage candidates to provide voters with the answers they deserve. This is a fundamental part of our mission: giving candidates the opportunity to communicate their positions and enabling voters to express their support or opposition through their informed vote.

Share Our Ballot Proposition Resources. LWVAZ has printed 20,000 copies of our bilingual 2026 Ballot Propositions Voter Education Booklet. These materials are only as valuable as our ability to get them into the hands of voters. We need members to identify distribution locations, deliver booklets, and share the digital version widely. Our bilingual Arizona Voting Options handout is another important resource to help voters understand how to return their ballots, vote in person, track their ballots, and make informed choices about how to participate.

Remain Informed and Vigilant. Our legislative wrap-up reminds us that decisions made at the State Capitol can have lasting consequences for voting rights, education, and other issues central to the League's mission. Several legislative referrals are now before voters on the November ballot. Our advocacy work does not end with the legislative session, and our responsibility to defend democratic institutions does not end when the polls close.

Stay Informed. Verify the Facts. Protect the Vote.

As we approach Election Day, our responsibility extends beyond encouraging people to vote. We must also be informed, vigilant, and prepared to recognize and respond appropriately to misinformation, voter intimidation, and potential interference with the election process.

In an environment where rumors and unverified claims can spread rapidly, League members have an especially important responsibility to distinguish fact from speculation, share credible information, and help prevent fear or confusion from discouraging eligible voters.

We want to draw your attention to three important resources that deserve careful reading and wider sharing.

Understanding the Challenges Facing the 2026 Elections

American Oversight has published A Guide to the People, Organizations, and Myths Threatening the 2026 Midterms. This resource examines individuals, organizations, and election-related narratives that American Oversight identifies as potential challenges to the integrity of the 2026 elections.

Of particular relevance to our members is its Arizona-specific investigation into challenges to the 2026 midterms.
A guide to Observing Intimidation at Polls: Verifying Facts About Intimidation at Polls

We encourage members to read these reports, understand the concerns being raised, examine the supporting evidence, and remain attentive to developments in their own communities.  

Our responsibility is to be informed, not alarmed; vigilant, not confrontational; and committed to facts rather than speculation.

Please take time to read these resources and share them with fellow League members and community partners. They reinforce why trained poll monitors, reliable information, and an informed citizenry are essential to protecting the right to vote.

Our Work Does Not End on Election Day

We must also be prepared for the days following November 3.

Every eligible voter deserves the opportunity to cast a ballot, and every lawful vote deserves to be counted. We must remain vigilant, rely on verified information, support the integrity of election administration, and be ready to respond appropriately if voting rights or lawful election processes are threatened. Our League's century-long commitment to defending democracy demands nothing less.

Membership Is a Commitment to Action

We know our members care deeply about democracy. That is why we joined the League.

But at this moment, we need more than our shared commitment to the League's mission. We need our members to put that commitment into action.

We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are asking everyone to do something.

If you can text voters, sign up. If you are comfortable making phone calls, volunteer. If you can distribute voter education materials, help us reach another neighborhood or community. If you can serve as a poll monitor, complete the training and be present. If you cannot volunteer in person, recruit someone who can.

And please do not underestimate the power of your own networks. Every League member has connections—to friends, families, neighborhoods, faith communities, schools, professional associations, and civic organizations. Those relationships can extend our reach far beyond what any state or local League could accomplish alone.

We cannot leave this work to the same small group of dedicated volunteers who repeatedly answer every call. Our strength as a grassroots organization comes from the collective participation of our members.

This Is the Moment to Show What the League Stands For

For more than a century, the League of Women Voters has worked to expand voting rights, empower voters, and defend democracy. That history is a source of enormous pride, but it also places a responsibility upon us.

We cannot simply celebrate the legacy of those who came before us. We must be willing to carry their work forward.

The strength of our democracy is not measured only by the laws that protect it or the institutions that sustain it. It is also measured by the willingness of ordinary people to participate, to remain vigilant, and to stand up for the rights of others.

So, as you read this newsletter, please do more than take note of the opportunities.

Choose at least one action. Sign up. Volunteer. Share the resources. Recruit a friend. Help a voter.

And if you have already volunteered, thank you. We are deeply grateful. Please consider whether you can do just a little more during these final days.

The work ahead is urgent, but it is also work we know how to do. We have the experience, the resources, the partnerships, and the collective strength of our members across Arizona.

What we need now is your participation.

Every member matters. Every volunteer matters. Every voter matters. Every vote matters.

Democracy does not ask us merely to believe in it. It asks us to participate.

Let's finish strong, Arizona.

Pinny Sheoran
State Advocacy Chair

Gitelle Seer
Advocacy Vice Chair
League of Women Voters of Arizona

    The Final Push to Election Day:

Three Ways You Can Help Get Out the Vote!

Election Day is November 3, and we need YOU to help more Arizonans vote!

More than 3 million early ballots have been mailed to Arizona voters, but returns remain low, particularly among younger voters and women.

Early ballot return figures show:

• Ages 18–34: Approximately 675,000 ballots mailed; only 32,000 returned.

• Ages 35–49: Approximately 626,000 ballots mailed; fewer than 50,000 returned.

• Women voters: Approximately 1.4 million ballots mailed; about 243,500 returned.

These figures are from reporting as of October 19  and will change as additional ballots are returned.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona is mobilizing members and supporters for one final, nonpartisan Get Out the Vote (GOTV) push.

We have three opportunities to help: text voters from home, join a phone bank, or participate in a community postcard party.

1. Our Top Priority: Join LWVAZ's GOTV Texting Campaign! 

We need volunteers NOW! You can help from home using your smartphone.

LWVAZ is launching a nonpartisan texting campaign through League in Action (LIA) to reach voters, particularly younger voters and women, who have received early ballots but have not yet returned them.

Our message is simple: Make a plan to vote, return your ballot, and make your voice heard!

Our texting campaign will focus on:

• Through October 25: Reminding voters to complete and promptly  mail their early ballots 

• October 26–November 3: Encouraging voters to return their ballots at authorized drop-off locations or vote in person if eligible.

We will use updated voter lists for each campaign to focus our outreach on voters who have not yet returned their ballots.

How to Join the Texting Team

1. If you already have a League in Action (LIA) account:

1. Make sure you have selected the League of Women Voters of Arizona as an organization you support.

2. Watch for email notifications announcing new texting actions, or log in to your LIA account to see available actions.

3. It's quick and easy! You can send 100 text messages in less than a minute. Just select an available texting action and start reaching voters!

2. If you do not have a League in Action account:

1. Click here for the step-by-step League in Action setup guide.

2. Download the League in Action (OutreachCircle) app and create your account.

3. Join the League of Women Voters of Arizona as a supporter.

4. 3. Start Texting!

5. Look for our Get Out the Vote (GOTV) texting actions in League in Action.

6. Select an available texting action and start reaching out to voters!

No canvassing or phone calls required. Just a little of your time can help more Arizonans vote!

2. Join a GOTV Phone Bank with ADRC

Our coalition partner, the Arizona Democracy Resource Center (ADRC), is organizing phone banks to encourage early voting and help voters make a plan to cast their ballots.

The outreach focuses on voters less likely to participate, including young voters, Black, Indigenous, and other voters of color, and newly registered voters.

Calls take approximately 30 seconds! A brief, friendly conversation can help someone take the next step toward voting.

To volunteer, contact Paige Daniel at ADRC: Email: paige@azdrc.org, Text her at: 602-717-4548

3. Join One Arizona's GOTV Postcard Party!

Our coalition partner, One Arizona, is hosting postcard-writing sessions to encourage voter participation in the November 3 election.

Choose a session:

• Friday, October 23 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM

• Monday, October 26 | 2:00–5:00 PM

Location: Industrious, 3110 N. Central Avenue, Suite D160, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Bring friends, family, and neighbors! Enjoy music, snacks, and the chance to encourage voters with personal postcards.

Stay for an hour or the entire session.

The Time to Act Is NOW!

Your texts, calls, and postcards can turn voter intention into voter action.

Every effort counts. Every vote matters. Let’s get out the vote!

Let's finish strong, Arizona!

Arizona Needs Election Protection Poll Monitors — Will You Step Forward?   

Sign Up Today

The November 3 General Election is almost here, and Arizona needs volunteers to help protect every eligible voter's right to vote!

The League of Women Voters of Arizona (LWVAZ) is partnering with Election Protection Arizona to recruit nonpartisan poll monitors across the state. We need League members, supporters, community partners, and students to step forward.

Why Poll Monitors Matter

Voters may encounter long lines, accessibility challenges, misinformation, intimidation, or confusion about voting procedures.

Trained poll monitors help by observing conditions at voting locations, documenting and reporting potential problems, and connecting voters with trusted Election Protection resources.

Poll monitors do not confront voters or interfere with election officials. Their responsibility is to observe, document, and report concerns through established channels so appropriate assistance can be provided.

No previous experience is required. Training and support are provided.

Sign Up and Get Trained!

For League Members and Community Volunteers

REGISTER HERE TO BECOME A POLL MONITOR

After registering, you will receive instructions and a login code to access the Election Protection training portal. Complete the required online, on-demand training before serving.

High School and College Students — We Need You, Too!

Young people have an important role to play in protecting voting rights. Serving as a poll monitor offers students firsthand experience with the election process and an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to their communities.

A limited number of stipends are available for eligible student poll monitors.

Students: Here's how to participate:

1. REGISTER HERE — STUDENT POLL MONITOR VOLUNTEERS. Confirm that you meet the applicable age and participation requirements.

2. Complete your required online training using the instructions provided after registration.

3. Interested in a stipend? After registering, email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com with your name, school, and confirmation of registration.

Stipends are limited, subject to eligibility and availability, and are not guaranteed.

We encourage parents, educators, and community organizations to share this opportunity with students.

Can't Volunteer? Help Us Recruit!

Even if you cannot serve as a poll monitor, you can help us recruit others! Share this opportunity with friends, family, neighbors, students, colleagues, and community organizations.

Every trained volunteer helps strengthen the network working to ensure eligible voters can exercise their rights without unnecessary barriers.

Democracy requires more than casting our own ballots. It requires citizens willing to help safeguard the rights of others.

Every volunteer matters. Every voter matters. Every vote matters.

Be present. Be informed. Be vigilant.

BECOME A POLL MONITOR — SIGN UP TODAY!

VOTE411 - Your Candidates Haven’t Answered? Help Us Get Them Talking!

Voters Deserve Answers! Help Us Get Candidates to Respond on VOTE411

Despite multiple invitations and reminders, some candidates still haven't completed their VOTE411 questionnaires. Voters deserve to know where candidates stand on the issues that matter to them. We need your help encouraging candidates to respond!

Here's how YOU can make a difference:

1. Check whether your candidates have responded.

Visit VOTE411.org, enter your address, and see whether YOUR candidates have answered the questions.

If they haven't, reach out! Call their campaign offices or post a respectful message on their official social media accounts. Here's a suggested message:

"Your voters want to hear from you! Please complete your VOTE411 questionnaire so we can learn where you stand on the issues that matter to our communities. Visit VOTE411.org and share your answers!"

2. Volunteer to help LWVAZ contact candidates who haven't responded.

We need volunteers to make one final round of outreach to candidates with unanswered questionnaires. Most calls will simply involve leaving a voicemail, and we'll make it easy!  Our VOTE411 team will provide candidate contact information, a suggested script, and simple instructions. You just need to volunteer a little of your time.

Ready to help? Email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com to join our outreach effort.

Every candidate deserves the opportunity to be heard, and every voter deserves access to the information needed to make an informed decision.

A few minutes of your time can help Arizona voters get the answers they deserve!

You Have Choices: Ways to Vote in Arizona

Early voting began October 7, and Election Day is November 3. Arizona voters have several ways to vote. You can vote by mail, return your completed mail ballot at an authorized location, vote early in person, or vote at a voting location on Election Day.

Receiving a ballot by mail does not limit your choices. You may:

• Complete your ballot and mail it back

• Complete your ballot and return it at an authorized drop box or voting location

• Personally return your ballot at a voting location and choose to show the required voter identification

• Decide not to use your mail ballot and vote in person instead

The League of Women Voters of Arizona created a bilingual Arizona Voting Options handout in English and Spanish to help voters understand these choices and make a plan.

The handout provides information about:

• Receiving and returning ballots through the U.S. Mail

• Signing the mail-ballot affidavit envelope

• Mailing your ballot early enough to arrive by the deadline

• Authorized locations where you may drop off a completed mail ballot

• The optional identification-verification process available when you personally return your ballot at a voting location

• Voting early in person or on Election Day

• Finding a Vote Center or assigned polling place

• Tracking your mail ballot to confirm that it was received and accepted

• Arizona’s voter-identification requirements

A completed mail ballot must be received by election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark is not enough. If Election Day is getting close, return your completed, signed ballot to  an authorized location instead of  mailing it.

Track your ballot at TrackMyBallot.azsos.gov/voter. Find your voting location, review voter-identification requirements, and obtain trusted, nonpartisan election information at VOTE411.org.

Download and Share the Handout

Please download the bilingual Arizona Voting Options handout and share it widely with family, friends, neighbors, community organizations, and your personal and professional networks.

You may also print copies for meetings, voter-registration activities, community events, and other nonpartisan voter-education efforts.

Help Arizona voters understand their choices, make a plan, and vote early.

The 2026 legislative session ended on June 13 after the Governor and the Legislature reached a last-minute budget compromise. The highly partisan Legislature introduced more than 2,000 measures, including at least 87 that Hobbs had already vetoed in prior sessions. The Governor signed 264 bills and vetoed 151. 

Most measures the League supported died on the vine because legislative leadership refused to advance them. 

More troubling are the legislative referrals the Legislature passed and transmitted to the Secretary of State for placement on the November ballot. Concurrent resolutions that amend the Arizona Constitution or laws serve as the vehicle for legislative referrals. Legislative referrals are not sent to the Governor. They are often the Legislature’s attempt to make an end run around a governor who might veto the same legislation if it were passed as a bill. In fact, some 2026 legislative referrals were introduced as bills in 2025, and the Governor vetoed them. 

The 2026 session began with about 60 concurrent resolutions to amend the Arizona Constitution or laws in our priority areas. By the end of the session, only 7 remained, and 2 never made it to the ballot due to legal challenges. For those following the math, 8 state ballot propositions are on the November ballot: 5 from 2026 and 3 from 2025.

LWVAZ Advocacy Issue Teams at Work 

We identified approximately 150 bills within the scope of our active issue teams. The most active were Voting Rights and Education. We monitored these bills as the session progressed. In some cases, we modified our stance based on amendments or further research and analysis that revealed a bill’s implicit negative impact. 

This is the nature of the work. As we learn more about the intentions and the real-world consequences, we may shift our position. The nuances of the impact and amendments influence our stance. 

Most of the measures we opposed that reached the governor’s desk were vetoed. 

For a complete list of the 2026 Calls to Action, explaining the impact of the bills and how readers could take action, see Compilation of CTAS for 2026 (bills followed by LWVAZ).