TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Friday is the last opportunity to vote early in person, before moving to 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, they’re also providing some tips on how to make the most of their time when they head to the polls, starting by voting early . .

“Your best option if you want to avoid any of those wait times is to go to an early voting site,” said Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly.

However, Cázares-Kelly said that at some of the locations, such as the downtown Tucson voting site, you can sometimes find hour-long lines.

But she’s sure it’s nothing compared to what the lines are expected to look like on Election Day.

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

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

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

According to the Pima County Recorder’s Office, more than 300,000 voters in the county cast their ballots early.

Starting Thursday, Cázares Kelly They said they have collected more ballots from their 18 early voting sites than in the 2020 election, and there are still a few more days left.

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

Cazares-Kelly said that when it comes to wait times for early voting, she hopes voters will contact their bosses to make sure they can take the time off to vote, whether it’s early or on Tuesday.

“Choosing between your job and participating in one of our most fundamental rights within our democracy should, should not, be questionable,” he said.

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

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

And when you’re getting ready to go to the polls on Tuesday, you can head to Pima County. website to find the shortest lines.

“It’ll tell you, oh, at this polling place there’s a 25 to 30 minute wait,” Evans. “Well, if you find another polling place nearby and it says there’s a five-minute wait, maybe go to that one and you’ll know you won’t have as long to wait.”

Evans added that as long as you are in line before 7 pm on Tuesday, you will be able to vote.

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

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