The May 15 election for the proposed primary property tax is still 11 weeks out, but for those who know they will be leaving town prior to the election, it might be a good idea to start planning and following the process to have the ballot sent to another address.

This is an all-mail ballot and voting material will be sent to all registered voters in town.

All ballots will be mailed April 18 and they should arrive by the end of that week or early the following week. For those leaving town, it’s possible a ballot will arrive well before a planned departure date and can be returned easily.

Election ballots will not be forwarded, even if there is a request to forward or hold other mail.

Those who are registered voters and need their ballot sent to an address other than their local one can simply request it be sent elsewhere, but it must be done in writing.

This must be a written and signed request – so the signature can be verified that it is the authorized person making the request.

The letter must include a full name, date of birth, residence address, temporary address, signature and a note granting election officials permission to mail the ballot to a temporary address.

The request may be scanned and emailed to evreq@risc.maricopa.gov or faxed to 480-360-3628. The postal mailing address is: Maricopa County Elections, Attn: Early Voting, 510 S. 3rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003.

Ballots must be received by Maricopa County Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 15, in order to be counted.

For those who will be in town and might have a problem with a lost or spoiled ballot, or simply failed to receive one they expected, the Fountain Hills Community Center will serve as a ballot center for this election. It will operate for about one month prior to the election and will be open seven days a week. It will be open on election day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters may drop off their ballot at the ballot center rather than use the mail or even cast a ballot there if they prefer. If someone casts a ballot in person, the ballot sent in the mail will be voided.

The deadline to register to vote in the May 15 election is 5 p.m. on Monday, April 16. Anyone who is 18 years of age prior to the election day may register to vote in this election.

Online registration may be done by visiting servicearizona.com/voterregistration or fill out the voter registration form at recorder.maricopa.gov/pdf/Voter_registration_fillable_form.pdf.

Forms may be obtained at the Town Hall second floor reception desk or one of the kiosks in the second level lobby.

Provide satisfactory evidence of U.S. citizenship on form /pdf/prop200.pdf or accompanied with the form.

Sign and date the form. It can be mailed or turned in to the county elections office.