Chinle, Arizona Public Records

Law enforcement services for the Chinle area are provided by the Chinle Police Department. This local agency is responsible for responding to calls, conducting investigations, and enforcing laws within the town's boundaries. The Chinle PD works closely with the Apache County Sheriff's Office, which has jurisdiction over the broader county region, to ensure public safety and address any criminal activity.

Chinle voters are served by the Apache County Elections Department, part of the Apache County Recorder's Office, located at 75 West Cleveland Street, St. Johns, AZ 85936, phone (928) 337-2925, website www.apachecountyaz.gov/recorder. Arizona residents can register to vote online through the Arizona Secretary of State's Service Arizona portal at servicearizona.com, which requires an Arizona driver's license or state ID. Voter registration must be completed 29 days before an election. To register, individuals must be U.S. citizens, Arizona residents, at least 18 years old by the next general election, and not convicted of treason or a felony (unless civil rights have been restored). Because Chinle is an unincorporated community, it does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council; instead, local governance occurs through the Chinle Chapter of the Navajo Nation, which holds chapter elections for chapter president, vice president, and council delegates according to Navajo Nation election procedures administered separately from Arizona state elections. Apache County voters participate in county-level elections for Board of Supervisors (three districts), Sheriff, County Attorney, Treasurer, Assessor, Recorder, School Superintendent, and other constitutional offices, typically held during general election years. Chinle residents find their polling place through the Apache County Recorder's office or the Arizona Secretary of State's polling place locator at my.arizona.vote/PollingPlaceSearch.aspx, entering their address to find their assigned precinct location. In Arizona, voter registration lists are public records available for purchase for political purposes, though individual voter history and party affiliation are not publicly disclosed online. Campaign finance reports are filed with and searchable through the Arizona Secretary of State's website at azsos.gov/elections/campaign-finance. Candidate filings and precinct-level election results are public and posted by Apache County Elections after each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Apache County reported approximately 45-48% voter turnout with about 26,000 ballots cast from approximately 55,000 registered voters; the county traditionally votes heavily Democratic, reflecting its large Native American population. On November 3, 2026, Chinle and Apache County voters will decide Arizona's gubernatorial race (Governor Katie Hobbs' term expires in 2027, so this election will determine her successor or reelection), state legislative races for Arizona House and Senate districts covering Apache County, Apache County constitutional offices including Sheriff and Board of Supervisors seats, and potentially ballot measures. The U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Mark Kelly is up for election in 2028, not 2026, so no U.S. Senate race will appear on the 2026 ballot in Arizona. Arizona allows no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting; voters can request to be placed on the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to automatically receive a ballot by mail for every election, or can request a one-time early ballot through the Apache County Recorder's office by mail, phone, or online through the county website up to 11 days before the election. Early ballots must be returned by 7:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmark does not count; must be received by 7 PM), at a polling place, or at designated drop boxes.