By Mark Stine - email
TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - Knocking and walking on the Southside of Tucson as volunteers go house to house to rally voters.
The Pima County Democrats are canvassing, trying to get as many registered voters as they can to get the Permanent Early Voting List.
It's not an easy process. Many doors aren't answered and some voters still prefer the polls, but the democrats say nearly half of the people sign up.
"We get anywhere from 40-60% sign up. People like how easy it is to sign up to vote by mail," Sam Almy with the Pima County Democrats said.
The ease of voting from home is why Melinda Torres' mother wanted to sign up.
Torres told KOLD, "She agreed to sign it because it's easier and because it's faster."
She's not alone. In the last two months, the Pima County Recorder says 13,000 people have signed up to vote by mail.
"We're getting really good response," Suguey Hernandez said.
Hernandez, with Mi Familia Vota, is dropping off hundreds of permanent early voting registrations they collected at the recorders office.
"It's such a plus to be able to get your ballot early and look up the issues, look up the candidates and be able to fill it out in the comfort of your home and send it on in the mail," Hernandez explained.
Historically, in Pima County, the Hispanic community registers to vote in large numbers, but doesn't participate that way. Hernandez feels like early voting could help.
She says voters can expect more knocking before election day. "Even try to go out to the doors again. Maybe two three weeks before election day to get them out to vote. Remind them that they're getting their ballot and remind them they can still go to the polls even if they got their ballot at home."
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