Ariz. Gov. Doug Ducey: May special election to avoid prior voting pitfalls, long lines
Apr 15, 2016, 1:53 PM | Updated: 6:59 pm
PHOENIX — Despite a looming lawsuit over long lines and extensive wait times at polling locations during Arizona’s presidential preference election, Gov. Doug Ducey said he is confident the state’s next election will run a lot more smoothly.
The state’s special election will be held on May 17. Arizonans will cast ballots on various proposals including Proposition 123, which is the governor’s plan to tap into state land trust dollars to better fund K through 12 education.
After calling the excessive wait times at polling places “unacceptable,” Ducey told KTAR he believes Arizona will not see a repeat of what happened in March during the May election.
“What happened in the presidential preference election was unacceptable and I know that (Maricopa County Recorder) Helen Purcell is making the changes so that we avoid that,” Ducey said.
The governor said he also wants to encourage voters to take advantage of early voting. Mail-in ballots should be sent to registered voters about one month prior to the election.
“People can mail in their early ballot and they will have no issues at all and when they show up at the polling places there will be more of them and the lines will be much shorter and move much quicker,” he said.
