Voter registration deadline looms for 2012 election
Oct 9, 2012, 5:00 AM
Tuesday is the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 6 general election, but there are no long lines at the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office.
“It’s not like it used to be,” said Recorder Helen Purcell. “Because 90 to 95 percent of voters register online through Service Arizona.”
On Thursday, Purcell’s office will mail more than one million early ballots to Valley voters. In 2008, Purcell said 55 percent of voters used early ballots. She expects the same or higher this election.
In the 2008 general election, when Arizona’s John McCain was on the ballott, Purcell said voter turnout in Maricopa County was 79 percent, but she doesn’t expect a repeat this year,
“I don’t think the mood that I feel is not there like it was in 2008,” she said. “Maybe because we didn’t have a sitting president running at the time. I don’t know what it is, but it’s just something that I feel is kind of not there like it was at the time.”
Purcell is estimating voter turnout will be between 70 to 75 percent this November.
“I hope we get to that,” she said.
Residents can register at servicearizona.com or find offices at recorder.maricopa.gov