Arizona’s Public Universities Team Up to Help Voters Prepare for the November Election

ASU, NAU, and the U of A join the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office for a statewide, nonpartisan voter education campaign.

PHOENIX – Forks Up. Go Jacks. Bear Down.

Arizona’s three public universities are bringing the energy of college football season to an important statewide effort: helping Arizonans prepare for the November 3 General Election.

Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and the University of Arizona (U of A) are partnering with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office on a nonpartisan voter education campaign featuring football players from all three universities.

The message is simple: Every Arizona voter needs a game plan.

Track it. Receive it. Vote it. Return it.

Through coordinated social media promotion and two football-themed public service announcements, “Follow It.” and “Receive It.,” the campaign will provide voters with practical information about tracking their early ballots, voting by mail and returning their ballots on time.

“We want every voter to have a game plan: track your ballot, watch your mailbox, vote it and return it. And just like football, don’t wait until the last second to make your move,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “College football reaches communities across Arizona, and this partnership gives us an opportunity to connect voters with the information they need to participate with confidence.” 

“Sun Devil football brings people together, and we’re excited to use that energy to help Arizonans prepare for the upcoming election,” said ASU President Michael Crow. "By sharing these messages with fans at our home games and beyond, we're helping make important voting information accessible to more people. That's a win for our entire state.” 

“We are proud to join this campaign in helping ensure voters have access to clear, practical information about the election,” said U of A President Suresh Garimella. “This partnership is a natural extension of our role as a land-grant university serving communities across Arizona.”

“From Flagstaff to communities across Arizona, NAU is committed to serving our state,” said NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera. “Connecting Arizonans with the information they need to participate in elections is exactly the kind of impact we work toward every day.”

From kickoff to Election Day

The campaign unfolds in two phases, following the journey of an early ballot from the mailbox back to election officials.

September 21 – October 6: “Follow It.”

The first PSA uses the experience of following football to introduce voters to BallotTrax, Arizona’s ballot-tracking service. It encourages voters to sign up at Arizona.vote to receive updates on their ballot, including when it is mailed and what it has been received by their county.

October 7 – November 3: “Receive It. Vote It. Return It.”

As early ballots are mailed on October 7, the second PSA shifts from tracking the ballot to tacking action. Using a football catch as its central theme, it reminds voters to receive their ballot, complete it, sign the affidavit envelope, and return it promptly.
Both PSAs feature football players from Arizona’s three public universities, combining school spirit with practical election information for voters across the state.

Watch the finished PSAs here.

Building on a winning playbook

The football campaign follows the Secretary of State’s summer voter education initiative, which used the excitement of the World Cup to introduce Arizonans to BallotTrax. During the period following that campaign’s launch, statewide BallotTrax enrollment increased 73%.

This fall’s campaign brings that approach to college football, with Arizona’s three public universities helping extend the reach of nonpartisan election information statewide.

The goal is simple: connect Arizona voters with the information and resources they need to prepare for the November 3 election.

Every voter needs a game plan. Learn more at Arizona.Vote.