University of Arizona students are concerned about not having a polling place on Election Day

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The University of Arizona does not have a polling location on Election Day, worrying some students.

As of now, the closest polling location on Election Day is the First United Methodist Church at Park and South Campus Drive. It’s only a 5 to 10 minute walk from Old Main, but students tell 13 News it’s just another barrier.

“The harder you make something and the more barriers you put on people, the less likely they are to do something,” said Miranda Lopez, a graduate student and member of the Arizona Students’ Association. “Even if the hurdles are very, very low.”

Lopez said she was not involved in the discussions at an Election Day polling place on campus and was disappointed to learn that she was not.

“We know that students are most likely leaving things until the last minute,” she said. “We’re still registering students who said, ‘Yeah, I’ll register to vote later.’ It’s later.’”

There will be an early voting location at the Student Union, but this will not remain a voting location on Election Day. Lopez said this can also be confusing for students.

“We’re worried that students will show up on Tuesday thinking they can cast their ballot and then find out they have to go to church and choose not to vote for some reason.”

Adriana Grijalva, president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, told 13 News she and the ASUA worked with county officials to try to bring voting to campus on Election Day, but it proved too difficult.

“It was inaccessible on election day because of the long lines and parking is expensive,” Grijalva said. “There’s free parking at the church, it’s a five-minute walk, there are long lines and the things we see a lot on election day, it was just more accessible.”

Lopez and Grijalva are grateful that the university has an early voting location, which is a first for the university.

13 News reached out to Pima County and received a statement from Pima County Elections Director Constance Hargrove:

“I understand there is concern that students may be disenfranchised because there is no voting center within the historic boundaries of the University of Arizona. However, the UA campus has long expanded beyond these historic boundaries, crossing Park Avenue, Speedway Boulevard and Sixth Street with residence halls, research and academic buildings, parking lots and a medical campus.

The university and the elections department reviewed multiple locations before making a final decision to direct voters to the established location, which was already serving as a polling place prior to the 2020 election. The First United Methodist Church voting center, 915 E. Fourth St., is on the west side of the university along Park Avenue. It has easy, free parking and is surrounded by residence halls and many of the new high-rise student apartments in the park. The voting center is 100 meters from the historic main entrance to the university and the Lun Link tram line, and 300 meters from the Student Union.

The University and Pima County Elections are making significant efforts through social media, websites, student media, campus outreach events, signage and more to ensure students know where to vote on Election Day.”

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