What you need to know about voting in Arizona’s primary on Tuesday
Aug 29, 2016, 3:30 PM | Updated: Aug 30, 2016, 11:52 am
(AP Photo/David Goldman)
PHOENIX — Arizona voters will head to the polls for the second time in 2016 on Tuesday, this time to select candidates that will appear on November’s general ballot.
While Tuesday’s primary is indeed important, it’s different than March’s presidential primary election. And those differences could lead to confusion for some heading to the polls.
The primary — get it? — difference between Tuesday’s vote and that in March is which voters are eligible to cast a ballot. During the presidential primary election, only those registered with certain parties were allowed to vote. On Tuesday, anyone registered to vote is eligible.
Unlike March, all voters — independents included — will decide which candidates will run against each other for numerous offices, such as Congress and the state Legislature, among others, rather than just their presidential picks.
However, there still are limits on Tuesday’s ballots. Those who are registered with a recognized party will only be allowed to vote on that specific party’s candidates, i.e. Democrats can only vote for Democrats, Republicans can only vote for Republicans, etc.
Independents will be required to choose one party’s ballot and vote using that.
Unlike the March vote, voters must go to their assigned polling place on Election Day. You can find out your correct polling place on the Maricopa County website.
Voters also must have proper identification to cast a ballot.
Those who received an early voting ballot but did not mail it in can drop it off at their polling location without waiting in line. Officials will check to see if one has been mailed in.
No propositions or offices will be decided on Tuesday. This week’s vote merely decides the party’s nominees that will square off in the November general election.
Those who have not registered to vote will not be allowed to cast a ballot in the primary. Those who plan to vote in the general election must be registered by Oct. 10.
Registration can be completed online.
KTAR’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report.