NextGen America provides voter registration forms and pro-voting stickers at a Oct. 7, 2024, voting event at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus. (Photo by Anna McClure/Cronkite News)
Kiki Whissen, wearing maroon, and Cara Pelletier provide information on Arizona’s propositions while tabling for the League of Women Voters of Arizona at a voting event on Oct. 7, 2024, at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus. (Photo by Anna McClure/Cronkite News)
A poster at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Undergraduate Student Government table features reasons students choose to vote on Oct. 7, 2024. The table was one of several set up on ASU’s downtown Phoenix campus on the last day Arizonans can register to vote for the November election. (Photo by Anna McClure/Cronkite News)
Claudia Cortez smiles next to a Citizens Clean Elections Commission table featuring shirts that say “LET’S GET ACTIVATED!” at Arizona State University’s downtown campus on Oct. 7, 2024. Cortez and others volunteered at a Feminist Majority Vote for Equality table, one of several tables set up on the last day Arizonans can register to vote for the November election. (Photo by Anna McClure/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – Monday, Oct. 7, marks the final deadline for Arizona voter registration. Volunteers and state officials across the political spectrum are attempting to engage citizens for the November election.
This election is a tight one, where both presidential candidates are fighting to win battleground states like Arizona.Polls show both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris effectively tied in many of the key states, meaning both campaigns are vying for votes to clinch a victory.
“This November, Arizonans have the power to choose between two visions for this country,” Democratic National Committee press secretary Cameron Niven said in a statement. “Vice President Harris and Gov. (Tim) Walz’s positive, pro-freedom vision and Donald Trump’s dangerous Project 2025 agenda.”
Trump has attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, which was created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
The Harris campaign has worked to engage with new voters and appeal to young voters via social media posts, especially with a strong presence on TikTok.
The Arizona Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment; however, it has engaged in voter events, including voter-registration tables across the state, frequent X posts and a table at the Arizona State Fair.
From left, Hannah Magick, Claudia Cortez and Gabi Aros behind their Feminist Majority Vote for Equality table at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus on Oct. 7, 2024. The organization provided voter information. (Photo by Anna McClure/Cronkite News)
Nonpartisan groups are also working to make sure that all voters can engage with the democratic process and guide new voters through registering. NextGen America, a nonpartisan youth voter engagement organization, tabled Monday on the Arizona State University downtown Phoenix campus.
“It is really an important thing here, especially here in Arizona,” said Alora Bermudez, a volunteer for NextGen America. “We’re in something that’s called a battleground state and so it can flip either way, but we’re here just to make sure everybody gets a voice.”
There were multiple groups involved in registering university students on Monday.
“A misunderstanding by our generation is the idea that our vote doesn’t matter, and the reality is, our vote does matter. If you look at congressional races earlier this year, in Congressional District 3, a primary decision, our primary election was decided with less than 40 votes,” said Katie Ritchie, director of government affairs for the undergraduate student government at ASU downtown Phoenix. “So it really is decided by small margins of people. And so get your friends to vote, encourage them and remind them that their vote does matter in this election.”
Voters can register at arizona.vote through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
“Remember, you cannot vote in November unless you register by the end of the day today,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in a video on X. “This is a really consequential election.”
