Last month, voters cast 1,457,635 ballots. Hobbs estimated more than 85% of those ballots came through early voting. || Deposit photo
By Mary Jo Pitzl || Arizona Republic
Arizona’s primary election set a turnout record — nearly 35% statewide — that was fueled by early voters, even as the popular practice is under attack by the state Republican Party.
The Aug. 2 election posted an “historically high participation rate for a midterm primary,” Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said as she signed off on the election canvass.
The official rate was 34.9%, compared with 33.3% in the last midterm primary in 2018.
Last month, voters cast 1,457,635 ballots. Hobbs estimated more than 85% of those ballots came through early voting.
“Yet again, Arizona voters have chosen to exercise their right to vote in a way that is convenient, secure and that allows efficient administration and tabulation for counties,” she said of Arizona’s vote by mail system, also known as early voting.
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That system is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit from the Arizona Republican Party, which argues it is unconstitutional and is asking the courts to end the practice. Lawmakers created the system in 1991 with strong bipartisan support.
Party officials took their case directly to the state Supreme Court, but the high court rejected the request, saying a case needed to start in a lower court. In June, a Mohave County Superior Court judge ruled against the party, rejecting arguments that early voting does not protect the secrecy of the ballot.
The case is now pending before the state Court of Appeals, and the GOP has requested oral arguments on the matter. No hearing has been set.
