ICYMI: What We Learned from Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett

As Arizona finds itself at the center of national election coverage, we’re revisiting a conversation we had earlier this year with one of the people responsible for running elections in the state’s largest county. 

This spring, the Vet the Vote team joined Maricopa County Elections Director and Coast Guard veteran Scott Jarrett at Phoenix Raceway, where we spoke with veterans, military families, race fans, and community members about something that often gets overlooked: the people behind our elections.

That conversation built on a longstanding partnership with Maricopa County Elections. Back in 2023, Vet the Vote hosted an event alongside Scott Jarrett that gave veterans and military families an inside look at how elections are administered, how local offices prepare months in advance, and where veterans can continue their service by supporting the election process. 

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversations with Scott is that elections aren’t built overnight. Behind every Election Day are years of planning, training, and preparation. It’s work that rarely makes headlines, but is the foundation that allows communities to hold safe, fair, & accurate elections. 

For veterans, election service is another opportunity to continue serving their communities. As poll workers, veterans bring experience working with others & putting mission before self. That’s why Vet the Vote continues working alongside election officials across the country to recruit veterans and military families into election service. 

It’s why Vet the Vote launched Unsung Heroes. From NASCAR pit crews to local polling places, we’re celebrating the people whose work often goes unnoticed, but whose contributions keep our communities moving forward. Poll workers are Unsung Heroes, too. Their commitment to serving their neighbors rarely makes headlines, yet it’s essential to every election. If you know someone making a difference behind the scene, we’d love to hear their story. 

With Arizona’s primaries in the news this week, it’s easy to focus on only the latest headlines. But the most important work is still happening at the local level. 

Election officials, poll workers, and community volunteers are preparing long before ballots are cast. Their work is centered on serving their neighbors, values that veterans understand well. 

That’s why conversations like the one we had with Scott Jarret at Phoenix Raceway matter. They give people the opportunity to hear directly from the local officials responsible for administering elections and to understand the people, planning, and preparation that happen long before Election Day. 

Those conversations become even more important when communities face unexpected challenges. Whether it’s a natural disaster or emergency, election officials spend months preparing to ensure voters can safely cast their ballots. Their work doesn’t stop when conditions become difficult; it adapts. 

Want to hear more about how election officials prepare for the unexpected? Our latest Vetted Conversations episode: Come Hell or Highwater, explores what it takes to administer elections in the face of natural disasters. Election leaders share how they plan for hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies, while keeping elections running for their communities. 

If you’re a veteran or military family member looking for another way to serve your community, consider becoming a poll worker or election volunteer. Continuing your service could help ensure your neighbors can participate in one of America’s most important civic traditions.