MCDCC Chair Statement, April 30 , 2020

I was really excited to think I may be able to attend what was to be the great Arizona debate. Well that didn’t work out so well did it?

Then we had the Presidential Preference Election. Best turnout ever statewide. We were well positioned with having volunteers be Poll Workers; we had the largest number of Political Observers signed up and approved by the County Elections Department. Well that didn’t work out so well either as the Arizona Democratic Party advised us we should not do observing.

We stopped door to door canvassing, we closed the door to the office, and we have been spending time adjusting to the new Executive Orders.

Arizona needs 16,000 volunteers to work the Primary in August. Please consider volunteering. Did you know that 80% of Arizona voters have signed up to vote by mail? So why aren't our turnout numbers higher?.

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs says that Arizona will never be 100% vote by mail. Why? Because let's remember that many of our Native American Indian Reservations do not have single household addresses and they need polling locations. That's just one example. So what can we do until we can reconvene in person?

1)   Make calls!!
a.   Our goal should still be that every voter in Mohave County signs up for Permanent Early Vote List (PEVL).
b.   Don't want to sign up for PEVL, request a one-time early vote by mail ballot.
c.   Request an absentee ballot.

2)   Hold virtual District Meetings. We have purchased Zoom, a virtual platform that allows us to conduct meetings remotely. You do not need to download anything on your iPad, laptop, or desktop. We have ways to help secure our meetings. If you are unable or not interested in logging in via a device, you can easily join a meeting simply by dialing in to a secure phone number.

3)   We are looking into the option of doing PEVL sign up via postcards, more to come.

I know I'm ready to get back out and hit the trail hard. We have some amazing candidates who were successful in collecting signatures and getting on the Primary Ballot, including Jack Ehrhardt, running for Board of Supervisors District 4 and Gerald Ross, Bullhead City Council. Congratulations to both..

Needless to say we have postponed our picnic until October and we will continue to invite candidates who are running up and down the ballot.

I sincerely hope everyone is doing ok and that your families are as well. I will schedule our next MCDCC meeting when we get the green light. Stay safe and if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions please let me know.

Respectfully yours,
Mary McCord Robinson
Chair