By Gila Herald Staff
GRAHAM COUNTY — Voters heading to the polls for Tuesday’s primary election need to be aware of a major location shift in Safford. For the first time in a very long time, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church will not serve as an election site.
County election officials have officially moved that vote center to the Safford LDS Stake Center, located at 501 Catalina Dr.
According to Graham County Elections Director Hannah Duderstadt, the county has pushed out notices in printed materials but is still receiving questions from residents accustomed to the traditional St. Rose location. Voters are urged to spread the word to neighbors and family members to prevent confusion on Election Day.
How to Vote in Graham County
Polling locations across the county will be open on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Graham County utilizes a Vote Center model. This means that any registered voter in Graham County can visit any of the county’s six designated vote centers to cast their ballot. You are no longer restricted to a single neighborhood precinct location.
However, voters living in specific outlying areas—such as Bylas, Peridot, and Bonita—also have access to their standard precinct polling places if they prefer to vote closer to home.
1. What to Bring: Identification Requirements
To cast a ballot in person, you must present valid identification at the polling place. You can provide:
- Option 1 (One Photo ID): A valid Arizona driver’s license, U.S. passport, tribal enrollment card, or other government-issued photo ID that displays your current name and registered address.
- Option 2 (Two Forms of Non-Photo ID): If you do not have a photo ID, you can present two documents that show your name and current address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, or official government mail.
2. Note for Independent Voters
Arizona operates under an open primary system. If you are registered as an Independent or have no party affiliation, you are still fully eligible to vote on Tuesday. Upon arriving at a vote center, you will simply need to inform the poll workers whether you would like to receive a Democratic or Republican partisan ballot.
3. Dropping Off Early Ballots
If you still have an early mail-in ballot, do not mail it.
Instead, ensure your affidavit envelope is signed in your original handwriting and drop it off at any official vote center or one of the county’s secure 24-hour drop boxes, including the one located at the Graham County General Services Building (921 W. Thatcher Blvd., Safford).
Where to Vote: Official Locations
Here is the complete list of available Vote Centers and precinct polling places open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday:
| Location Type | Facility Name | Address |
| Vote Center (Open to all) | Safford Stake Center (NEW LOCATION) | 501 Catalina Dr., Safford |
| Vote Center (Open to all) | AG Building, Graham County Fairgrounds | 3805 S. US Highway 191, Safford |
| Vote Center (Open to all) | Solomon School Gym | 2285 S. Stevens Ave., Solomon |
| Vote Center (Open to all) | EAC Fine Arts Auditorium | 663 N. Stadium Ave., Thatcher |
| Vote Center (Open to all) | Pima Town Hall Complex | 110 W. Center St., Pima |
| Vote Center (Open to all) | Ft. Thomas School Gym | 15502 W. U.S. Highway 70, Ft. Thomas |
| Bylas Precinct #11 | Robert Olivar Sr. Learning Center | 297 E. U.S. Highway 70, Bylas |
| Peridot Precinct #16 | San Carlos Housing Authority | Moonbase Rd. / Hwy 70, Peridot |
| Bonita Precinct #13 | Bonita School | 18008 S. Ft. Grant Rd., Bonita |
For further questions regarding voter registration status or ballot tracking, residents can contact the Graham County Elections Department at 928-792-5037
