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Maricopa County had a historic primary turnout with 860,704 voters participating in the August Primary Election! That’s a record! In the 2018 Primary, voters cast 699,636 ballots and in the 2016 Primary, voters cast 555,844 ballots.
The breakdown:
- 2,431,029 eligible voters
- 860,704 ballots cast
- 35.4% turnout
Results were audited in a hand count by 3-member citizen boards. The county’s Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian chairs appoint the boards. The audit found that there is a 100% match between tabulated results and paper ballots. The hand count audit is just one check on the elections process to ensure the integrity and security of the election is upheld!
The Maricopa County Elections Department expanded in-person voting options, with safety measures in place, and made it easier for voters to request a one-time ballot by mail or sign up for the Permanent Early Voting List. Voters were also able to vote at any of the 99 Vote Centers open across the county on Election Day in spaces large enough to allow for physical distancing.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will officially canvass the election on August 14 at 9:30 a.m. The canvass certifies that all ballots cast are accounted for and ensures that every valid vote cast is included in the final election results. Watch online here or on Maricopa County’s YouTube page.
August 4th Primary Election Results
Be Ballot ready for November General Election >
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As schools resume classes this month, Maricopa County Public Health is consulting with districts to make sure they have access to the latest science and data related to COVID-19 spread in our community. Public Health experts, including our own Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, agree that the amount of community transmission is an important factor to consider as schools determine when to begin in-person instruction. Public Health has created a school risk assessment tool for decision makers to use and Public Health will provide data to communities to help them determine whether they are meeting county-level benchmarks, established by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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Cases: a two-week decline in weekly average cases OR two weeks below 100 cases per 100,000 population
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Diagnostic test percent positivity: two weeks with positivity below 7%
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COVID-19-Like-Illness Syndromic Surveillance: two weeks with less than 10% of hospital visits due to COVID-like illness
ADHS released Benchmarks for Safely Returning to In-Person Instruction, to be used in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Education's Roadmap for Reopening Schools. ADHS has provided a dashboard indicating whether counties meet the recommended benchmarks for initial reopening of in-person learning in schools. ADHS recommends that all three benchmarks fall into the moderate or minimal transmission ranges before schools in a county consider a hybrid approach of virtual and in-person learning.
In addition, Governor Doug Ducey, the Arizona Department of Education, Helios Education Foundation and ASU announced a new $7.5 million partnership to help K–12 teachers adopt new digital hybrid instructional practices. The Arizona Virtual Teacher Institute is open to all teachers in Arizona
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The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has developed a tool for schools to understand ways to lower risk of COVID-19 infection when returning to school.
 This is a stressful time. There are mental health and wellness resources on arizonatogether.org. You may also consider these self-care practices from the CDC:
- Take breaks from screen time
- Take care of your body
- Do activities you enjoy
- Connect with others (from a safe distance)
To speak to a trained crisis counselor, call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
Sincerely,
Steve Chucri, District 2
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
www.maricopa.gov/steve
602-506-7431
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