Arizona Luminaria reporters spent the day at polling centers on Nov. 5 — from open to close — talking with voters about their experiences, what made them come out to vote and more. Here’s what we saw and heard.
Find results from around the state, the ballot propositions and Pima County.
Republican party: Chants for Trump, criticism of Nanos
Yana Kunichoff
The mood was jovial at the Republican party as an initial drop of votes from Arizona showed votes trending slightly toward Donald Trump. “Trump, Trump, Trump” the crowd chanted.
For Zane Lewis, the initial results made him ecstatic. “It was always really sad seeing Arizona, one of the most beautiful states in my opinion, go blue in 2020,” he said. He said he doesn’t like Donald Trump as a person, but does like his policies.
He knocked on doors for the Trump campaign in North Carolina in September, and in Tucson in October. He lives with his parents in Oro Valley, and would one day like to move out. “I feel like it will be a lot cheaper,” said Lewis, 20 years old, of life under a Trump administration. “The promise of the American dream will become more real.”
Lewis’ friend, Johnny Moothart, didn’t consider himself a political person, but he voted for Trump. Core to his interest was Trump’s promise of affordable housing.
Moothart, a 21-year-old engineering student at University of Arizona, also lived with his parents in Oro Valley. He and Lewis met while working at Safeway. “I think Trump just makes things affordable for people,” Moothart said.
Silviana Smith came to the Republican watch party wearing a custom-made satin skirt with Trump’s campaign logo, a red shirt saying “Trump Force Captain” and a Make America Great Again red hat.
She worked as a poll watcher during the 2022 election, and said she expected a range of changes under Trump: “We need to close the borders, we need to stop drag queens, we need to be able to buy a car.”
Pima County Republican Chairman Dave Smith said he was keeping a close eye on the sheriff’s race between Democrat Chris Nanos and Republican Heather Lappin. “I worry about the sense of corruption,” he said, noting that if that race wasn’t a partisan one Lappin may have done better just on character.
Smith said that concerns about Trump impacting American democracy long-term were overblown, and he had not seen Trump fail to support the constitution. Instead, he said, people took Trump too literally. “America is not used to that New York persona,” he said.
The big ticket item making headlines might be the presidential election, but Republican candidate Janet Wittenbraker wants to remind people that a lot of what happens in local elections can have a major impact: taxes, budgets, local employment.
That’s why she is running for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 3, the seat currently occupied by Supervisor Sylvia Lee. “I feel that what I’ve been able to achieve is educating people,” she said. “Local elections matter.”
This election, Wittenbaker said she has focused her campaign on independents who she says can make or break things for a candidate.
If she doesn’t win, Wittenbaker said she’ll continue her focus on local politics by supporting candidates in Tucson City Council Wards 3, 5 and 6. That will include supporting candidates who have new ideas for engaging on issues of homelessness and drug use.
“It’s time for the grown-ups to come back to the table and enforce our laws with compassion, she said.
Pima County Board of Supervisors
John Washington, 9:23 p.m.
As votes are being tallied in Pima County, three Democratic candidates for the board of supervisors, Rex Scott, Jen Allen, and Vanessa Bechtol took the stage, giving a shot of energy to the crowd who just had to be told by the DJ to “don’t stop believin’.”
“It’s early, but all three of us are leading our Republican candidates,” Scott said.
Jen Allen began in Spanish: “Espero que esta noche es la mejor que tengamos este año.”
“I’m an organizer, and for me it’s about building the power of everyday people.” She added that she wants her office to be an “organizers’ office.” She said she and her team knocked on 17,000 doors during the campaign, and she heard that people want the “freedom to choose” their reproductive rights and want “dignity for people crossing the border.”
Bechtol was more cautious, as she’s trying to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Christy. She said she hoped to see an all-Democrat board of supervisors.
Hopeful drinks
John Washington, 8:57 p.m. at Hotel Congress
Victor Garcia said the best selling drinks so far tonight are the free ones. Attendees at the Democratic Watch Party are given one drink ticket, and they’ve been using them. Garcia is tending the bar on the Hotel Congress patio. He said he voted “ a while ago, by mail.”
Garcia said people are going to drink when they’re hopeful, sad, or happy, “so the tips are coming either way.” He added, “Republicans want to show off more, so they’ll sometimes throw in a big tip, but generally Democrats tip better.”
At the merch table, Melanie Fisher, of the Gloo Factory, explained their quick shift to Kamala Harris when she became the nominee. “There was a merch void, and we worked to quickly fill it.”
“We haven’t seen excitement like that probably since Obama in 2008.”
Fisher said that because they are unionized, they typically get more orders from Democrats. She said they use the money they make from big political campaign orders and sales to fund community projects they care about. She named Palestinian rights and abortion access as two of the issues they’re most focused on.
No credible threat
The City of Tucson issued a news release at 8:28 p.m. about threats.
“Earlier this evening, bomb threats were received via email at the Pima County Recorder’s Office and the Pima County Elections Department. Tucson Police Patrol Officers and Hazardous Device Technicians responded to both locations, conducted investigations, determined that there were no bombs, and no credible threat. Similar email threats were received throughout the State of Arizona.”
Pima County Republican watch party
Yana Kunichoff, 7:57 p.m.
YMCA played election night at the Pima County Republican watch party to a scattering of claps and a steady dance party in front of the projector screen streaming election results.
Bill Martin took a break from the event in a corridor leading to the rest of the hotel. Martin had spent the day as a poll worker at Rising Star Baptist Church before heading to the Pima County Republican Party on Tuesday night.
Martin has been active in the Republican party for the past 12 years, and is also a precinct committeeman. He mailed in his ballot and voted Republican. “Straight ballot,” he said.
He isn’t sure what to expect from election night, but says it’s always a reminder of the many different people living in the United States. “It’s just too big of a country to tell,” he said.
Christine Harlan’s son Daniel Rowland was running for Constable in Justice Precinct 1 in Pima County. She found the experience nerve wracking, but said she is hoping for the best.
Harlan grew up in a Democratic family, but had voted Republican in her first election, for Ronald Reagan. This year, she wasn’t a huge fan of Donald Trump, but still voted Republican. “Am I better or worse off than I was four years ago? I am worse off,” she said.
She was also worried about the border, though she also came to the topic with some sympathy, she said. “If I was a mom in Mexico, I’d probably also sneak across the border,” she said. “But we can’t pay for it.”
Standing alongside the dining area of people milling about was Yvette Serino. As the chairwoman of Latinos for Lake, Serino had been at the polls from open to close today, she said.
Lake, who is running against Ruben Gallego for Senate, was not going to be attending any watch parties tonight after a day at the polls in Maricopa County.
Serino’s hopes for the election are that most voters will vote for Donald Trump. “America is gonna choose, and we hope they choose freedom,” she said.
The work is done, and now they wait
John Washington, 7:44 p.m. at Hotel Congress
With an NBC news roundtable frozen on the big screen on Hotel Congress’s back patio, music blasted on a chilly Tucson night. About 250 people milled about, ordering drinks and food from a truck. Joni, Gary, and Matt Jones shared a table in the mood to celebrate. “The work is done,” Gary said.
Joni explained that the family had been hosting Democratic Party canvassers at their home for weeks. “The last four days our dining room table became a conference table,” Joni said. Besides hoping for a Harris victory, the family is looking hard at the Ciscomani-Engel race.
As they sipped their drinks, the music paused and Chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors Adelita Grijalva took the stage to start off the night.
“I’m feeling very optimistic,” Grijalva said. “Felicidades to all of us!” Calling herself a “mariachi mom,” she then introduced three mariachi singers, including her daughter, to sing the national anthem.
As they sang, the screen unfroze behind them and live election coverage resumed.
Humanity on both sides
Carolina Cuellar, 6:26 p.m.
Like other University of Arizona students on Election Day, Daniel Joseph Edwards was over an hour and a half into his wait to vote at the United Methodist Church.
“I knew that there would be a wait, but I didn’t think it would be this long,” he said.
As Edwards waited, he chatted with two other students as volunteers offered food and refreshments to those in line. Edwards said he’s going to vote a mixed ballot with Donald Trump as his presidential pick. His vote was based on a series of issues important to him.
“Gun control, abortion, mostly social topics, but I am pretty concerned about the economy and where it’s been lately,” he said.
He anticipates that tumultuous days will ensue but wants people to remember the humanity on both sides.
“There’s going to be chaos and peaceful protests, but so long as people remember that whatever the numbers come out to be, that the person on the other side is human and voted their best just like us,” he said.
Bored but important
John Washington, 5:44 p.m.
Yolanda Sheerin, 36, dragged her two daughters, Zariah, 11 and Tayler, 8, with her to vote. The girls both said they were bored and had to wait almost a half an hour. But it was important for Yolanda: “I wanted them to see the process,” she said.
She said she doesn’t always tell people who she supports. “I like Trump, and I wanted to make sure he gets back in office,” she said. “He helped us more than this president, economically at least.”
She said she also supports Prop 139. “I feel we should be able to have an abortion, especially when there’s rape, we need to be able to make a choice.” That was the issue she said felt was most relevant to her daughters. She said she’s talked to them about the importance of getting info from places other than YouTube.
As for Zariah, she said the importance of voting was simple: “you get to vote for people you want, your opinion matters.”
Proud to put on the ‘I Voted’ sticker
John Washington, 5:35 p.m.
Patricia, 43, walked out of the Donna R. Liggins recreation center and hit her purple vape pen. She said she was nervous— “about everything.
The economy, the wars.” That’s why she said she voted for Trump. “I like everything about him,” she said.
She said election integrity was “a little iffy” and was scared that there could be violence in coming weeks.
She declined to have her photo taken.
Shortly after Patricia got in her car, Isaias Carrillo, also 43, walked out of the vote center. He was beaming.
Carrillos, the owner of ‘81 Barbers in Tucson, said he was proud to put on the I Voted sticker because, “I cast my ballot for Kamala Harris and sanity.” He said he waited in line about 20 minutes.
Carrillos added that he voted for Prop 139. He, too, was nervous about the outcome, but was confident in the election integrity, especially locally.
Updates from the long lines at the UA
Carolina Cuellar, 4 p.m.
Pima County spokesperson Mark Evans said they are aware of long wait times at the University of Arizona-area voting center but couldn’t say how long people were actually waiting.
People in line told Arizona Luminaria they waited upwards of two hours.
“Other places have had a wait but none like this,” Evans told Arizona Luminaria.
Evans said the poll workers at the United Methodist Church weren’t updating the site and even if they were, the county dashboard’s highest wait time label is “more than twenty minutes.”
Evans said part of the wait could be that students don’t have means of transportation are just heading to their closest poll station.
“There are other polling centers they can go to,” Evans said, though he also said the county is not actively alerting those waiting in line about the alternatives.
Evans said they did send people to the UA location.
“We sent people to troubleshoot,” he said, not elaborating on the troubleshooting measures.
‘What about the convicted felon thing?’
John Washington, 5:09 p.m.
Couple Kerri Divine, 56, and Andy Gyarmaty, 52, left Eckstrom-Columbus feeling good about their vote.
“100%” Andy said about his confidence in election integrity. He said the election denialism “was a bunch of hooey” and was one of the main reasons he didn’t want to vote for Trump.
Kerri said she was voting primarily for Harris and against Kari Lake. Andy, meanwhile, said he agreed with Trump on his stance against NATO and NAFTA, but his stance on the January 6 insurrection and his denialism pushed him toward Harris.
“Is that all you think is wrong with him?” Kerri said, laughingly. “What about the convicted felon thing?” she asked him.
Andy said he thought “they were a little too harsh on Trump.” Kerri rolled her eyes dramatically and pulled Andy away.
‘Freedom to be myself’
Yana Kunichoff, 4:40 p.m.
Kaitlyn Garber, 21, was one of the first time voters at Woods Library on Tuesday.
They were voting for Harris because they felt that their ability to live as a queer and non-binary person was at risk.
“I’m trying to keep my freedom to be myself and live life. There are a lot of things threatening that,” they said.
‘I’ll be here until I get to vote’
Yana Kunichoff, 4:15 p.m.
Standing in the 45 minute line at Woods Memorial Library, Edith and Eduardo Marquez say they are determined to vote.
Neither of them had been politically involved for a long time, but this morning their 18-year-old daughter called crying because she had registered to vote too late.
“Mom, you have to go vote,” she told Edith.
The biggest issue on both of their minds was access to abortion healthcare and same-sex marriage. Their daughter is bisexual and they wanted a safe future for her.
For Edith, it would be the first time ever voting. “I’ll be here until I get to vote,” she said.
Eduardo grew up with a politically involved father, but had become disillusioned. Today, he felt, democracy was at risk.
“We could be the final last votes to count,” he said.
‘The DNC has failed us’
John Washington, 4:19 p.m.
“I feel like there was no option, I wasn’t given an option,” said Aharon Lund, 44, as he approached Eckstrom-Columbus to cast his ballot. He had to park at the neighboring Golden Corral as the library parking lot was full.
“I’ve been pissed at the DNC ever since they screwed over Bernie,” Lund said. “I’m still going to vote that way, but the DNC has failed us.”
Lund added that he was also looking forward to voting for women’s reproductive rights.
“I wish I followed local politics more, because that’s where real change starts to happen,” Lund said, adding that he’s a roadie for a band, doing live audio work, and he hasn’t been able to follow closely enough.
‘Que tengan la voz’
Beatriz Limón
Con su mamá a su lado sonriendo con orgullo de que su hija votó por primera vez, Alyssa Rodríguez dijo que esta elección fue importante.
“Porque estoy votando por los que no pueden votar,” dijo la joven de 21 años en un centro de votación ubicado en Academies at South Mountain, al sur de Phoenix.
Mientras sostenía su mano en la altura de su frente para protegerse del sol, dijo que siente que el voto latino es importante “por nuestra gente, por nuestra cultura.” En respuesta la mamá dice que también “por nuestra derechos.”
Su mensaje para jóvenes que no quieren votar: “Yo les diría que si sus papás no pueden votar, pues que les ayuden a votar, que voten por ellos. Que tengan la voz.”
Tired of the ‘third-grade sandbox’
John Washington, 4:06 p.m. at Eckstrom-Columbus Library
The line to vote at Eckstrom-Columbus Library is reportedly about 40 minutes, which is down from earlier in the day.
Carol Bieg, 73, and Bill Rost, 75, both cast their ballot for Harris.
“We definitely want a democracy,” Carol said. She added that while they are both voting against Trump, “I’m excited about Harris herself.”
Bill said that part of the problem he sees with Trump is that his campaign has been so negative.
“I’m tired of the third grade sandbox style of campaigning,” Bill said.
They both reported that they were confident in the election process, but Carol said, “We anticipate strife for a week at least if Trump loses.”
First-time voter
Yana Kunichoff, 3:57 p.m. at Woods Memorial Library
UA nursing student Audrey Schneider was voting for the first time Tuesday at Woods Memorial Library.
The right to access abortion health care was one of the big reasons she was excited to vote for Kamala Harris.
She got a lot of her information from groups sharing flyers on campus.
This election, Schneider, 18, wants other young people to vote for what they think is important, not following their parents’ lead.
“Vote on what you want and not what your parents vote for,” she said. “I want to make my own decision.”
Updates from around the state
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes gave updates on Election Day issues during a media briefing at 3 p.m. He wanted the public to know:
- If voters are in line by 7 p.m. they are still eligible to vote. “That’s an important part of the way we do things here in Arizona,” he said.
- The only people authorized to be in polling places are poll workers, voters, and official observers designated by the political parties or the U.S. Department of Justice. “My office has not authorized any other groups or affiliates to enter polling places,” he said.
- Fontes said they’ve been monitoring “a particular threat,” with information from the FBI. The multi-state threat involved Arizona, Georgia, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, including bomb threats at four locations in Navajo County. The threats are unsubstantiated, he said. “We have no reason to believe any of our voters or any of our polling places are in any sort of jeopardy,” Fontes said. He also said the threats were a probing attack related to Russian interference in the election.
- Regarding the problems with printers and e-pollbooks in Apache County, Fontes said the issues are county wide, not just on the reservations. Most of the polling sites in the county are up and running well, he said, but there are still some “residual issues.” Fontes said he met with Navajo Nation officials to talk about details and “continue those open lines of communication we have with our tribal government.”
- His office was working to fight misinformation in Coconino County, where some university students are being told they can vote even if they’re not registered to vote. This is not true, Fontes said. Voters needed to have registered to vote by the registration deadline and there is no same-day registration in Arizona.
Photos from the University of Arizona
The voting location closest to campus at the First United Methodist Church near Fourth Street and University Boulevard was busy with mostly students waiting two hours in some cases to cast a ballot, they said. At 2:30 p.m., there were 228 people in line.
More than 150 voters snaked their way around First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters reported waiting an hour even as the line continued to grow longer. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
More than 150 voters snaked their way around First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters reported waiting an hour even as the line continued to grow longer. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
A Harris-Walz supporter speaks to young voters who were waiting in line at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters reported waiting an hour even as the line continued to grow longer. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
More than 150 voters snaked their way around First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters reported waiting an hour even as the line continued to grow longer. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
More than 150 voters snaked their way around First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters reported waiting an hour even as the line continued to grow longer. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
A Donald Trump supporter gives a thumbs up while honking their horn in support on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
A Ruben Gallego supporter hands out swag to students on the University of Arizona Campus on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
Supporters and opponents of Proposition 139 held signs and talked to voters who were waiting upwards of one hour to vote at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Credit: Michael McKisson 
More than 150 voters snaked their way around First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters reported waiting an hour even as the line continued to grow longer. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
Mel Roberts of the Frontera Wesley campus ministry center hands out popcorn to voters who were waiting for upwards of an hour to cast a vote at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
A “Yes on 139” activist encourages people waiting in line at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona, to vote yes on the proposition that would enshrine abortion rights in the Arizona constitution on Nov. 5, 2024. More than 150 people were wafting in line around noon with times of more than an hour being reported. Credit: Michael McKisson 
Rose Todaro from the Tucson symphony play music for people waiting in line at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. People reported waiting at least an hour as the line continued to grow. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
Yvonne Creanga, left and Rose Todaro from the Tucson symphony play music for people waiting in line at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. People reported waiting at least an hour as the line continued to grow. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
Young voters wait in a line that snaked around First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. People reported waiting at least an hour as the line continued to grow. Photo by Michael McKisson. 
Shay Thomas passes out popcorn to people waiting in line at First United Methodist Church, the polling location closest to the University of Arizona on Nov. 5, 2024. More than 175 people were waiting in line to cast their ballot. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Voting wasn’t enough
Yana Kunichoff 3:06 p.m. in Oro Valley
As voters walked by Jessica Fitzgerland stretched out her hand and offered them a bottle of water, the plastic glinting in the relentless midday sun. Fitzgerald had cast her ballot two weeks ago, but on Tuesday afternoon she was at the Oro Valley Public Library making sure voters stayed hydrated.
“I didn’t feel like just voting a couple of weeks ago was enough,” said Fitzgerald, 36. She had woken up this morning, prayed, and decided she would go back to the polls. “I got a distinct answer that I need to come and keep people hydrated.”
Fitzgerald voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election. “I voted for Trump holding my breath,” said Fitzgerald. She was upset about his recent shift in his position on abortion, which she felt should be left to each state.
She was also concerned about the economy. She had been laid off from her job doing medical billing 12 weeks ago, and was still struggling to find a new position. Her biggest hope for this election is that it remains peaceful. “Once we go up that path, there is no going back,” she said.
Lisa Landis was casting her vote on Tuesday afternoon at the library in Oro Valley. Landis said she had voted a straight Republican ticket, not because she was particularly excited about any particular politician, but because she cared about abortion and was against same-sex marriage. The Republican party best lined up with those positions, she said. “I don’t see myself as a Republican,” said Landis, a former Navy veteran. “I vote for policy not person.”
Still, she was aware of the divisive nature of politics in this moment, and hoped to avoid it. She and her husband had not put up any political lawn signs, she said. In particular, she hoped a new president who focused on limiting migration at the border could help stem the rise of vigilantism in the border region that concerned her. “People feel like there is no justice and they’ve got to take it into their own hands. It’s got to stop.”
Hold them accountable
John Washington, 3:06 p.m.
“I voted so Trump doesn’t get to be president again,” said Martha D. Molina, 59, who voted with her husband, Augustine Molina, 60.
Martha said her heavily purple-themed outfit was not a sign of bipartisanship, but they both do hope to see a return to political normalcy and “just civility.”
Augustine emphasized that Trump needs time be held accountable for what he says. “He told them to go down on January 6, and look what happened. Trump pushes too much. You’re supposed to be held accountable, you’re supposed to act right.”
He said he also voted for Harris.
They both said that immigration is a tricky issue for them. Martha said her dad came over the border in the ‘60s and worked hard.
“Today it’s different, it’s hard to know what to think. It’s such a touchy subject.” She said she didn’t remember if she even voted for Prop. 314.
Gun rights is his No. 1 issue
John Washington, 2:59 p.m.
George Gardoni, 45, said it took him years and about $1,500 in lawyer fees to restore his ability to vote after being convicted of a felony years earlier. This is his first time voting in a presidential election.
Wearing a 2A t-shirt, he said gun rights is his No. 1 issue.
“I want to be able to carry legally. People don’t want to throw down with fists any more, so you have to protect yourself,” he said.
He didn’t want to share who he voted for for president, but “You could take a guess.”
Turning out to vote on the abortion ballot proposition
John Washington, 2:35 p.m. at the Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center in Tucson
Denisse García came to cast her ballot for the first time in her life with her mom Francisca, husband Alex, and four-year old daughter Sophie. They voted at the Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center because they live nearby, though they are not tribal members.
“The main reason I came is for 139, to support the right to choose,” Denisse said. Francisca added that she was here for her daughter and granddaughter, to vote in 139. “Estoy aquí por las propuestas que tienen. Lo demás es cómo decidir entre Burger King y McDonalds,” Francisca said in Spanish.
Prop. 139 would add a fundamental right to abortion to the state constitution. Arizona is one of nine states with abortion on the ballot, according to the Associated Press.
Denisse said she expects Trump to win the presidency. “Es el dinero, el dinero manda,” added Francisca.
As the family left, Sophie showed off her Future Voter sticker.
‘Something we needed to do as Americans’
Carolina Cuellar, 2:11 p.m. at Santa Cruz Lutheran Church on Tucson’s south side
Jeff Hoffman’s decision to vote came at crunch time after a conversation with his wife.
“Honestly, I wasn’t going to vote up until yesterday,” he said. “But we just felt like it was something we needed to do as Americans.”
Hoffman went to Santa Cruz Lutheran Church with his wife, baby and a friend to cast his ballot.
While he voted Trump for president, he looked at issues independently and also voted for some Democrats.
“There’s both, I’m a very independent person and there’s a couple things that I didn’t see this year, or these last four years, that it’s time for a little bit of change, you know?” he said.
Hoffman said there was one issue that stood out to him this election cycle.
“We should definitely look out for women’s rights, stuff like that. It’s always great to let them have their choice,” he said.
Now that Hoffman has voted, he’s avoiding the post-election chaos as it’s out of his hands.
“You know, did my part and that’s all I can do,” he said.
First-time voter
Carolina Cuellar, 1:40 p.m. at Santa Cruz Lutheran Church on Tucson’s south side
Lourdes Mendez remembers witnessing the vitriol and stress of the last presidential election from the sidelines as a young teenager. Now, at 19, she was finally able to participate at Santa Cruz Lutheran Church.
“I feel sad that it’s like this again, but I’m also excited to be part of the voice now,” she said.
Mendez said she and her peers have been hyper-aware of the election and the importance of voting.
“Everyone’s texting each other, making sure that everyone’s voting,” Mendez said.
Mendez researched candidates on her own and disregarded their political affiliation. When it came time to pick, she chose those candidates and propositions that aligned with her morals and values.
“I did what I heard and what I read about, what I thought was right and what I thought wasn’t right,” she said.
The most important issues for her were abortion and child security crimes. Ultimately, she cast her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now, as she waits for the results, she only has one more worry.
“My biggest concern is that everything’s fair and no one’s like, well, it’s gonna get messed with,” she said, adding that she hopes “it’s all gonna be fine.”
Mendez said she had an overall positive first voting experience.
“It was kind of scary waiting, but once I got in they were pretty like to the point and nice about it,” she said.
Turnout in Pima County
About halfway through voting on Election Day in Pima County, about 41,000 people had cast a ballot at a polling location, according to unofficial turnout numbers.
Including early voting and provisional ballots, 379,930 ballots had been cast for a turnout of 51% in the county.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
Quicker to drive to Oro Valley
Michael McKisson, 1:30 p.m.
Levi Peters, an engineering major who lives in a dorm on the University of Arizona campus, walked by the line of about 135 people at the closest campus polling location chatting with his mom on the phone. He told her he thought he might drive up to the polling location closer to his parents’ home in Oro Valley because of how long the line was.
He said he had heard it was barely moving and figured he could drive up, vote and return to campus faster than the line was going to move.
Peters said he was definitely going to vote even if he drove to Oro Valley because Arizona is a battle ground state and “we need every vote.”
‘We cannot afford to go backwards’
Kiara Adams, 1:21 p.m.
Nancy Robins has first-hand experience of what’s on the ballot this year. The retired gynecologist and foster mother said this election was too important to sit out which is why she went beyond voting and volunteered her time as a poll observer.
“Reproductive freedom is on the line this election everywhere and that is too important especially to me,” Robins said. “In my time as a gynecologist I have delivered babies but I have also seen ectopic pregnancies, women bleed out, all sorts of things that as a medical professional I was able to help and provide treatment for. But we’re now being faced with policies that would have prevented me from providing that care.”
As a foster parent, Robins said she understands the wounds that unwanted children feel from their parents and the abuse that can follow. Robins said by forcing pregnancies on people, it is doing more harm than good, which is why she considers herself pro-choice.
“I’m just concerned about everything Project 2025 is putting out there,” Robins said. “Women’s rights have come a long way in my lifetime. I’m 71 years old and we cannot afford to go backwards on any of these issues.”
Coolidge to Tucson
Michael McKisson, 1:32 p.m.
Yvonne Gomez said she recently moved to Coolidge, but was registered in Pima County and decided to drive down to cast her vote.
She found the University of Arizona-area polling location online and drove straight there.
She said she wasn’t daunted by the wait of more than an hour because she wanted to make sure she was able to vote.
Students at the polls
Kiara Adams, 1:10 p.m.
With major political figures coming to the UA campus to appeal to young voters over the past few months, today was the day students were finally able to get their voice heard after such a rigorous campaign season.
“I’m a senior in college but this is my first time being able to vote in a presidential election,” UA student Lily Bowdren said. “As a young voter I just really wanted to turn out today and make sure that I voiced my opinion on the issues that matter most to me.”
By the time Bowdren was able to cast her ballot at the First United Methodist polling station, she had waited over an hour in line. As the day went on, more and more students lined up at the closest voter center, creating a crowd of more than 150 by midafternoon.
An emotional event
Kiara Adams, First United Methodist Church near the University of Arizona
Voting today was an emotional event for 53-year-old Nicole Grigg. She left the voting center in tears over the thought of having a Black woman president.
“There’s just a lot to be hopeful for,” she said tearfully.
Wiping her eyes and putting on a smile Grigg said this election is particularly important to her.
“I vote in every election but there’s something special about this one,” she said. “The stakes are just so high and the rhetoric is clear and divisive. One side is for our country’s future and the other side has said if you vote today you’ll never have to vote again and we can’t have that.”
Grigg said the line is clear and she has hope that the election will go in favor of her candidate.
Long lines at UA
The lines at the University of Arizona-area voting center had grown by 12:40 p.m. from about 135 at noon to about 175 people waiting.
People at the front said the wait was about an hour.
The line snaked around the First United Methodist Church located at Fourth Street near University Boulevard through an ally toward Park Avenue as some students had to leave to go to class.
The vote center wait times map from Pima County lists the UA location as “no data available today.”
Lines at the University of Arizona-area voting center were very long around lunchtime. Folks at the front said it was about an hour wait. pic.twitter.com/nF9ygtY94j — AZLuminaria (@AZLuminaria) November 5, 2024
Uber voter
Michael McKisson, 11:36 a.m.
Nate Willbanks was voting downtown Tuesday morning because he said the line at the University of Arizona campus location was way too long.
He took advantage of a 50% off deal on Uber rides to polling places and went downtown instead where there was virtually no wait.
Nate said his Uber driver got out and voted too.
Feeling relaxed
Carolina Cuellar, 12:07 p.m.
Donald Gregg showed up to vote at St. James United Methodist Church out of a sense of obligation.
“I was told to vote,” he said.
He said he’s relaxed about the whole thing despite the seemingly inescapable ubiquity of this election cycle.
“I remember four years ago, I wasn’t getting 20 texts a day. I wasn’t hearing everything on the radio, every commercial being political,” he said. “Not so much in my face would be great.”
He casted his ballot for Donald Trump but doesn’t feel the situation is particularly dire.
“In my experience, it’s a lot of hoopla for something that does not change our lives very much,” he said.
Gregg described his overall voting experience as pleasant and fast. The Pima County Recorder’s website noted the wait at more than twenty minutes but he said he only waited 15.
He said he cares more about local elections.
“I’d say it’s unfortunate that there’s less zest over those than the big ones that have a lot less impact,” he said.
Music while they wait
Carolina Cuellar, 11:32 a.m. at St. James United Methodist Church in midtown Tucson
“Despacito” rang from the speakers as a long line of voters waited their turn outside St. James United Methodist Church near Fort Lowell Road and Campbell Avenue. James Anderson manned the DJ booth, playing a curated playlist for those casting their ballots.
Anderson is part of DJs at the Polls, an organization that places DJs outside voting centers to encourage voting and liven up the atmosphere.
“The whole thing is to just play feel-good music for the voters,” he said as he was setting up.
Anderson worked at another voting site earlier in the morning, Armory Park Center, and still has one more to go after his two and a half hour set at the church.
He said the atmosphere at the previous location was relaxed and people seemed to enjoy the music.
“Everybody was really just chilling and every now and then you know some people will walk by and they’re like vibing out and stuff and we’re like ‘We got one!’” Anderson said about his experience at the previous polling place.
He plans to vote between this set and his last set but says he is still unsure for whom. Still, he finds the experience unifying.
“It’s a community thing, like the whole community is doing it all on the same day so in a sense I feel like it brings people together,” he said.
Longer wait times
Voting locations in Pima County with longer wait times at around 11 a.m. — defined by elections officials as longer than 20 minutes:
Eckstrom-Columbus Library: 4350 E. 22nd St.
Miller-Golflinks Library: 9640 E. Golflinks Road
St. James United Methodist Church: 3255 N. Campbell Ave.
Santa Cruz Lutheran Church: 6809 S. Cardinal Ave.
Marana Municipal Complex: 11555 W. Civic Center
La Villita Community Center: 71 E. Sahuarita Road in Sahuarita
Find the updating list with times here.
U.S. Senate race
Democrat Ruben Gallego started the morning campaigning from Tucson while Republican Kari Lake offered to bus voters around the Phoenix area.
Exceptionally stressful
Carolina Cuellar, 9:58 a.m.
Ava Blank has voted in every election but, she said, this year’s campaign was exceptionally stressful.
“I hope things just move towards the positive and kindly,” she said.
She said cast her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris despite being a traditionally Republican voter. As an east coast native, she said she has disliked Donald Trump even before his run for office.
“It’s just a whole lifetime of seeing a repeat in his personality and pattern,” she said.
Ultimately, Blank wants to avoid another Trump presidency.
“I don’t want to repeat of what happened when Trump was in office,” Blank said.
But her vote for Harris doesn’t come without reservations.
“I am worried about the Harris economic, you know, Biden situation but I vote for kindness regardless,” she said.
Blank avoided politically charged ads and did her own research to inform her vote.
“I tried to look for non-sponsored, very nonpartisan opinions and avenues and looked at things that gave good perspective on yeses and noes and what it really ultimately meant,” she said.
For years Blank voted as an independent but felt limited by that choice. She’s hoping Proposition 140, which would facilitate independent voting in the primaries, passes.
“I’d like to see more independent, non-party voting,” she said.
‘I had to come out today’
Kiara Adams, 9:43 a.m. at the University of Arizona
Roommates and University of Arizona students Samantha Strangis and Arilynn Hyatt left the polling station at First United Methodist Church all smiles as they proudly showed off their “I voted” stickers.
For Strangis it was her first time voting in a presidential election.
“I wanted to make sure my voice was heard,” Strangis said. “Not voting is essentially a vote for policies that you don’t want enacted, so I made sure I came out today.”
Hyatt shared a similar sentiment on the issues that are important to her.
“There was a lot of important issues on the ballot, and things that matter to me so I had to come out today,” Hyatt said.
“Women a hundred years ago fought for my right to vote so by voting I’m also honoring them.”
A family affair
Michael McKisson, 9:35 a.m. at the University of Arizona
Kevin Graham joined his daughter Daphne Graham to vote at the polling location just on the edge of the University of Arizona Campus.
Daphne recently turned 19 and was excited to finally get to vote because she said she was old enough that the decisions being made by politicians are directly affecting her.
Her message to young people, “Your vote matters. Go out and vote.”
‘Pro-democracy in my voting’
Carolina Cuellar, 9:27 a.m. at the Morris K. Udall Center complex at Udall Park on the east side
Christopher Catone exited the Udall center polling station with an “I voted sticker” below “That boy ain’t right” written on his green t-shirt.
“It was a lot quicker than I thought it was gonna be,” Catone said about casting his ballot.
Catone said he voted for a mix of Democrat and Green Party candidates, including Harris for president.
“I don’t want to give a 4-year-old the keys to the car and I’m generally pro-democracy in my voting,” he said.
He said his voting experience went as well as he could hope but he’s frustrated at reports of threats toward election workers. “It’s a little anti-democracy,” he said.
He’s hoping the follow up to Election Day isn’t overly hostile and would like to see a fundamental change in the electoral process.
“It would be awesome if we had rank choice voting,” he said.
‘Future voter’ and mom felt good energy at vote center
Carolina Cuellar, 9:02 a.m. at the Morris K. Udall Center complex at Udall Park on the east side
Ansil Ball was one of a steady stream of voters dropping off their ballots at the Morris K. Udall vote center on a chilly Election Day morning.
Ball said she’s happy with the experience, despite the negativity in this election cycle.
“There’s so many people that make it happen. There’s so many people running it. There’s so many people voting,”she said. “It gives me really good energy!”
Ball chose the location as it’s her closest polling station. Her daughter held her hand wearing a “future voter” sticker to match her mom’s “I voted” one.
While Ball didn’t feel comfortable disclosing her vote, she said she got information through debates, articles and Google searches.
“As I really dove in and researched I felt really positive about the whole process and I feel positive about our options,” she said.
Ball does have concerns for the future but said her voting experience and knowledge about candidates make her feel better.
“I think we’re going to be OK,” she said.
Early ballots cast and counted
Becky Pallack, 8:15 a.m.
There are 662,357 registered voters in Pima County. By the end of the day Monday, Pima County reported it had already counted more than 300,000 early ballots. The results from early ballots are typically made public about an hour after polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Pima County Republican Party organizer Tara Maldonado Oster said in an email newsletter that Republican early voter turnout was strong.
“So far, 116,755 of our 185,594 registered Republicans have cast their votes, showing a strong commitment to shaping our future,” she said in the email. “But we’re not done yet — every single vote counts, and we need all hands on deck to secure a win.”
Do you want to check on the status of your early ballot? Visit recorder.pima.gov/BallotInfo
If you still have an early ballot at home, you can take it to any vote center today, and you don’t have to wait in line. See a map or list of vote centers in Pima County.
Printer problems
Becky Pallack, 6:30 a.m. at St. James United Methodist Church in midtown Tucson
Tech issues started at sunrise at this vote center. The on-site printer produced blank pages and the poll workers didn’t know how to “spoil” the ballot in the system in order to print another for a waiting voter.
A poll worker who called for help was put on hold as a line of about 30 people formed inside and outside, with the temperature at a chilly 42 degrees and adding to the time it takes to vote a packed 4-page ballot.
“Sorry folks, we’re tryin’,” a poll worker said. The marshal was telling people to go to Woods library as a nearby alternative.
You can check wait times at vote centers in Pima County.
Post by @pima_countyView on Threads
Find a vote center in Pima County
Early ballots can be dropped off at any Pima County polling center. If you don’t have an early ballot and need to vote in person today, you can look for the most convenient vote center on this map. Pima County no longer has assigned polling places, so you can vote at any vote center.
Around the state: Use this tool to find a polling place.
At the polls on Election Day you must provide your name and place of residence and present identification to the election official.
The photo ID can be one of the following:
If you don’t have any of those IDs, you can provide two of the following:
If you don’t have two of those, there’s a third option:
Valid identification is also required prior to receiving a ballot at any in-person early voting location or emergency vote center or from a special election board.
What to bring to the polls
Voting rights
Pima County voters can track the status of their early ballot here. Maricopa County voters can track their early ballot here. Voters in other parts of Arizona can track their early ballot here. Find out more about election security here.
Know your voting rights / Spanish version
NALEO ¡Ve y Vota! Spanish/English languages: Call 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA or 1-888-839-8682
Arizona Native Vote Election Protect Project: If you experience issues voting call this hotline: 1-888-777-3831
APIA VOTE and AAJC Asian languages: Call 1-888-API-VOTE or 1-888-274-8683
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law/10 languages:
Disability Rights Arizona: 602-274-6287 or 1-800-927-2260 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. More resources for voters with a disability from the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
More general voting resources from the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
Native voters in Arizona and elsewhere have long faced discrimination and obstacles when it comes to casting a ballot. For more information about your rights, Arizona’s Native voters can sign up with Arizona Native Vote, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Indigenous and rural communities participate in elections.
Arizona Native Vote Election Protect Project: If you experience issues voting call this hotline: 1-888-777-3831
Members of federally-recognized tribes are not required to have an address or photo on their tribal identification in order to cast a provisional ballot, according to the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
Need language assistance or have questions about your voting rights?
Native voters
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