July 25, 2025

Presidential elections demand precision, coordination, and strict timelines long before voters step into polling booths. Ballot design and printing are critical steps, involving careful layout, state-specific formatting, and secure, accurate production, to ensure elections run transparently and on schedule. At Phoenix Election Printing, we specialize in meeting these tight federal and state deadlines, helping election officials navigate every phase from ballot proofing to deployment.

Designing and printing ballots for presidential elections involves multiple sequential steps: drafting candidate listings per jurisdiction, incorporating referendum language, ensuring ADA-compliant formatting, and securing regulatory approvals. Once designs are approved, printing must commence with high-security protocols, using anti-counterfeiting features and strict quality control. Printing facilities often collaborate with state election offices to coordinate delivery timelines so ballots arrive in voting locations or distribution hubs well before early voting or mail-ballot deadlines.

Typical Ballot Design & Printing Milestones

  • Design & Proof Approval: Submit initial layouts 8–12 weeks prior to Election Day.
  • Regulatory Review: Allow 4–6 weeks for state or county election board approvals.
  • Final Artwork Deadline: Lock in final approved ballot design about 6 weeks before ballots must be mailed or made available.
  • Printing & Quality Inspection: Begin printing 4–5 weeks before mailing with batch tracking and tamper-resistant security.
  • Shipping to Election Offices: Deliver ballots at least 2–3 weeks before early voting opens (most jurisdictions allow pre-processing of ballots in advance).
  • Contingency Reprints: Reserve final slot 1–2 weeks before, in case of revisions, errors, or new legal rulings.

Meeting the Demands of Early Voting and Mail Ballot Deadlines

In many states, mail balloting and early voting require ballots to be fully printed and ready to ship several weeks before Election Day. For instance, jurisdictions that allow pre-processing may begin signature verification and curing procedures early, which relies on ballots arriving and being properly tracked in time. In contrast, states that prohibit pre-processing until Election Day face compressed timelines that challenge printing providers and election offices alike. At Phoenix Election Printing, we partner with clients to build flexibility into these schedules, whether they include potential legal changes, candidate additions, or last-minute referendum revisions. Our Rochester-based facility can produce millions of ballots per month, with exacting control over print volume and accuracy, including color checks, thickness verification, and edge-to-edge consistency.

Partner with Phoenix Election Printing for a Seamless Election Process

Planning ahead is essential. If you're an election official or polling administrator preparing for an upcoming presidential election, Phoenix Election Printing is ready to streamline your ballot design, approval, and printing process. We deliver secure, compliant ballots that meet your jurisdiction’s timelines, all with real-time tracking and quality assurance. Contact us today to discuss your deadline requirements, customization options, and delivery schedules. Let us manage the technical details so your election runs smoothly—and on time. We can be reached by calling 800-262-3202 or by emailing through our secure contact form.