Independents make up largest bloc of Maricopa County voters registered for primary

PHOENIX – Nearly 2.5 million Maricopa County residents are registered to vote in this year’s primary election, with independents making up the largest bloc.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer said Monday the total of 2,474,077 registered voters is down about 120,000 since the November 2020 general election. Richer attributed the decline to list maintenance.

While party-affiliated registrations dropped across the board since November 2020, voters identifying as independent or other have increased.

The Maricopa County breakdown for the Aug. 2 primary is 34.5% (854,636) independent/other, 34.3% (848,534) Republican, 30.3% (750,414) Democrat and .8% (20,493) Libertarian.

Final Maricopa County registration numbers for the August 2 primary:

Republicans: 848,534
Democrats: 750,414
Libertarians: 20,493
Others/Inds: 854,636
Total: 2,474,077

— Stephen Richer—Maricopa Cnty Recorder (prsnl acct) (@stephen_richer) July 11, 2022

In November 2020, when the registered total was 2,595,272, the breakdown was 35.3% (915,227) Republican, 32.4% (840,677) independent/other, 31.4% (814,343) Democrat and 1% (25,025) Libertarian. (Note: Percentages don’t add up to 100 because of rounding.)

Non-party voters can participate in a primary by requesting an early ballot for one of parties from their county recorder’s office.

“Or, you can show up to a voting location any day up to Election Day … and you can make your selection there,” Richer told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos and Chad Show on Monday.

Per the Maricopa County Elections Department, 103,235 independent/other voters had requested primary ballots as of Friday morning, with 57,220 asking for the Republican ballot, 40,919 the Democratic ballot and 5,096 a nonpartisan ballot, which only covers certain municipal races where party affiliation is not a factor.

July 5 was the last day Arizona residents could register and be eligible to vote in the midterm primaries.

Early voting started July 6, when 10 Maricopa County in-person centers opened and mail ballots were sent to those who requested them and members of the Active Early Voter List.

The county elections department website has information about how to request an early ballot or get on the Active Early Voter List to automatically receive one every election. The deadline to request an early ballot for this year’s primary is July 22.

The county will open 200-plus vote centers by Election Day. Voters can choose any center to vote in person or drop off a completed early ballot. Early ballots can also be returned through the mail or deposited in an official secure drop box.

Maricopa County voters can find locations and hours of operation on the elections department website.

Early ballots must be received in the mail or submitted at a vote center or drop box by 7 p.m. on Aug. 2 to count. Officials warn that ballots mailed after July 26 might not arrive on time.

Maricopa County residents can check their registration status and get more election information at BeBallotReady.vote.

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