News Summary
In response to safety concerns, public schools in Maricopa County, including Mesa Public Schools, will not serve as polling sites for the upcoming election. This decision follows a significant decline in the number of schools used for voting, which has dropped from 37% in 2016 to 14%. Security incidents during past elections contributed to this trend, prompting many districts to prioritize safety over accessibility. Election officials are now seeking alternative venues to ensure voter access while addressing heightened security needs.
Phoenix, Arizona – Safety concerns have led to a significant shift in how public schools serve as polling locations in Maricopa County, as nearly 750,000 students prepare to return to school this year. For the first time in years, Mesa Public Schools, Arizona’s largest public school district, will not open its doors as polling sites, reflecting a broader trend among school districts prioritizing safety amidst heightened political tensions.
The decision by many public schools not to participate as polling places comes in the wake of disruptive incidents during elections that prompted confrontations between voters and school staff. In 2016, schools made up 37% of polling locations in Maricopa County; this number plummeted to just 14% for this election cycle. As security concerns mount, election officials have been tasked with securing adequate replacement sites, often turning to commercial spaces in the community.
Over the past four years, 159 polling locations have ceased operations, with 28 of those being schools. This decline has posed challenges for voter accessibility, particularly among communities that have traditionally relied on schools as trusted venues for voting. Many school districts are opting to hold staff-only training days on Election Day instead of allowing their facilities to be used as polling sites, underlining a shift in priorities around safety and space availability.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is responding to the growing need for safety within school environments by hosting the 2025 Regional School Crossing Guard Training Workshops in July and August. These sessions are expected to see participation from approximately 400 crossing guards across the Valley and will cover essential topics such as crossing guard procedures, health and safety protocols, traffic laws, and the use of necessary equipment. This initiative aims to bolster safety standards as children return to school amidst changing dynamics in community participation.
Concerns over safety stem not only from election-related incidents but also from broader threats against election workers and attacks on voting systems. Maricopa County has allocated nearly $1 million for leasing polling locations this election cycle, a stark increase from the mere $53,000 spent in 2016. Many administrators have reported experiences of intimidation and alarming situations linked to voters, further discouraging schools from opening their doors for electoral purposes.
Despite the closing of many public schools as polling sites, a few non-school locations are emerging to fill the gap. However, fulfilling the demand for polling spaces remains a struggle, as evidenced by similar community participation challenges faced by other counties, such as Osceola in Florida. These dynamics indicate a broader decline in schools serving as electoral venues—a shift observed throughout the country—reflecting ongoing concerns about safety and the evolution of community relations regarding voting.
As Maricopa County navigates this new landscape, election officials continue to seek alternatives while confronting the reality of diminished school participation, prompting a reevaluation of how elections can be conducted in a manner that ensures both security and accessibility for voters.
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Additional Resources
- ABC15: School Crossing Guards Training
- Fox 10 Phoenix: News Video
- Washington Post: Arizona Polling Locations Change
- KOAA: Parents React to School Zones
- WKRG: Mobile Police Crossing Guard Positions
- Wikipedia: School Crossing Guard
- Google Search: School Safety Polling Places
- Google Scholar: School Safety and Voting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Temporary Polling Places
- Google News: Maricopa County Schools Elections
