Faithful Citizenship Begins with Being Informed
Arizona’s 2026 Primary Election is Tuesday, July 21, and the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission has released its official 2026 Voter Education Guide to help voters prepare.
For people of faith, voting is one way we live out our call to love our neighbors and seek the well-being of our communities. The decisions made by elected leaders affect housing, hunger, education, health care, water, immigration, public safety, voting access and the care of creation. Participating in elections is not the whole of faithful public witness, but it is an important part of how we show up for the common good.
The Clean Elections guide is a nonpartisan resource that includes candidate statements, explanations of offices on the ballot, voter registration information, ways to vote, accepted ID at the polls, county election contacts and tools for finding your personalized ballot information. It also reminds voters that primary elections matter: in some races, the primary effectively determines who will represent a community.
Important dates for Arizona voters include:
The voter registration deadline is Monday, June 22.
Early voting begins Wednesday, June 24.
The last day to request a ballot by mail is Friday, July 10.
Voters are encouraged to mail back early ballots by Tuesday, July 14.
The last day to vote early in person is Friday, July 17.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, July 21, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The guide also emphasizes that independent voters can participate in Arizona’s primary election. Independent voters do not need to re-register with a political party, but they must choose which available party ballot they wish to vote.
LAMA encourages congregations and ministry leaders to share trusted, nonpartisan voting information with their communities. This is especially important in a season when misinformation can spread quickly. Voters should verify election information through reliable sources, make a voting plan, know what ID to bring and contact their county election officials with questions.
Faithful civic engagement is not about telling people how to vote. It is about helping every eligible voter participate freely, safely and confidently. As Lutherans, we believe public life is one place where love of neighbor takes shape. In this election season, that love can look like checking your registration, learning about the candidates, helping a neighbor find voting information, volunteering in your community and casting your ballot.
Make your plan now. Your voice matters — and so does your neighbor’s.