Mission

Examines issues relating to fairness, accuracy, uniformity, and transparency of election processes and proposes action when appropriate.

Officers

Ann Wallack, Chair
(602) 318-5425
annwallackmaricopadems [dot] com (Email Ann)

Meetings

Our meetings and events are always posted on the MCDP Events Calendar.

Sign Up Today to Protect Democracy

Poll Workers (aka, Election Board Workers) and Political Observers are critical participants in our county's election process.

Poll Workers

Poll Workers are hired by the County Elections Department to operate the polling places, but according to state statute, the political parties are responsible for recruiting voters to fill these positions. Ideally, when each political party meets the required deadlines for recruitment, each polling site will have equal representation -- typically three Democrats and three Republicans who work as poll workers. However, when there are not enough Democrats appointed and hired, those positions may be filled by Independents or Republicans.

The Poll Workers ensure that qualified voters are able to vote and that their votes are counted as the voter intended them to be.  It is very important that the Democratic Party fulfills its obligation to staff every polling site with the requisite number of Poll Workers.

Volunteer Political Observers

Volunteer Political Observers are stationed at every polling site. Each political party is allowed to recruit one Volunteer Political Observer for each polling site.  The job of the Observer is to ensure that the voters are treated fairly and that their ballots remain secure. They are there to watch the process, note when procedures are not followed (and bring this to the attention of the head poll worker of that site) and call for assistance from their political party when necessary. In addition, the Observers watch the voting process from the time the Early Voting sites open right through to the final count at the County Elections Department – a process that takes a few weeks.

Sign Up Today to Protect Democracy

With over 1,000 polling sites in Maricopa County there is a great need for volunteers!

The Democratic Party could use your help.  To sign up, simply complete the form on the right-hand side of this page now. It is fun and you’ll feel good about participating in this patriotic process.

Sign up now by completing the form on the right-hand side of this page.

John Fitz-Randolph Presented with Special Award

March 26, 2009 at the MCDP Executive Board Meeting

Joan Fitz-Randolph, a leader and ground breaker, is one of the “grand dames” of our Democratic Party.  She credits her accomplishments, not to herself, but to the help she received when working for the MCDP and the AZDP. On March 26, 2009, at the MCDP Executive Committee meeting, Catherine Kladis, Chair of GemDems EIC, Co-Vice Chair of MCDP EIC, member of AZDP EIC and former member of MC CAFÉ (Maricopa County Committee to Achieve Fair Elections), presented an engraved plaque to Joan from MCDP EIC committee members.

Because of Joan, many key people in the MCDP and AZDP EI got their start, including Randall Holmes, Carol Corsica, Judy Whitehouse, Nancy Houston, Cathy and Doug Kladis, Phil James, Gene Parker, Brenda Masnick and others.

We commend Joan Fitz-Randolph for her work, her vision, and her dedication to election integrity.

Joan’s accomplishments:

• In 1992 she was elected Chair of LD 21 where her work resulted in more PC’s, increased funds, and a newsletter that reached 6oo Democrats. In 2000 she was elected 1st Vice Chair of LD 17.   Joan initiated and manned voter registration drives and obtaining signatures for candidates and initiatives in Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe..  She worked to educate voters about the candidates, propositions, initiatives and judges.
• In 1996 and, again, in 2000, Joan ran for the Arizona State House.  Both times she came close to winning.  In 1996 she and President Clinton were the only “Blue” candidates in the East Valley.  In 2000 she was the first woman candidate to qualify for the new Clean Elections funds.
• In 1996 she formed the ADWA (AZ Democratic Women’s Association).  They sat in on legislative sessions and called members to advocate policies.  LD 21 Democrats made a presence in the East Valley enclave of Republicans.
• In November of 2004 Judy Kennedy presented Joan with notes of the Maricopa County Elections Department post election analysis meeting which revealed a marked increase in provisional ballots cast. Shortly after this, at the 2005 MCDP meeting, many people thought the election had been stolen; most had concerns about the machines. Joan felt we could, at least, look at the process, especially why so many provisional ballots had been necessary.
• That night several people signed up with Joan for a new committee and on January 15, 2005, MC CAFÉ officially met with Joan as Chair.  They developed an action plan and took it to Jan Brewer to educate themselves on election laws and procedures.  Joan and other MC CAFÉ members spoke at many district meetings regarding voter registration, election integrity and the correct procedure for filling out voter registration forms. In March, MC CAFÉ gave the County Elections Dept. their recommendations for changes to the voter registration forms.  Some were implemented.
• In June they compiled reports of complaints from Poll Workers, making it the very first Poll Worker Post Election Survey ever done for the MCDP.  In the same month Joan met with Joe Kanefield regarding the residency requirements to vote in Arizona, stating that Jan Brewer’s SoS manual’s wording went against State Law and would have kept ASU (and other) students from voting.
• In August of 2005 the AZDP voted to establish a State EI standing committee.  One month later Joan became a voting member with the approval of Don Bivens, the AZDP Chair.  She continued to work on Poll Worker issues and voter registration at the state level, as well as locally.
• In January of 2006 MC CAFÉ members tore into the Poll Workers manual, which they regarded as disorganized. They re-wrote sections and provided a table of contents. Following that, Tonia Tunnell was hired by county elections and rewrote the manual, which is now revised every year.
• In 2006 Joan worked on the “NO” side of Proposition 205, which would have limited a voter’s right to privacy and severely cut the number of polling sites. Due to Joan’s efforts in speaking at District meetings, distributing materials and paying out of her own pocket for radio ads, it went down - 72% NO to 28% YES.
• In August MC CAFÉ members started a concerted effort to be Poll Workers. The County Elections Department did not contact those who signed up, would keep them on hold for long periods when they called to inquire, and its employees who were temporary contract workers weren’t knowledgeable.

Although now retired, Joan's work continues through the many she inspired.