More than 750,000 Maricopa County voters will get early ballots in the mail as soon as Thursday, when voting begins for the Aug. 28 primary elections.
The elections include partisan races as well as nonpartisan elections for mayor and the city councils in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa.
Voters who are registered with a political party will get a partisan ballot, but voters not affiliated with a party will also get a partisan ballot only if they request one through the Maricopa County elections office. Those nonaffiliated voters can request a ballot for the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Green or Americans Elect party.
In Maricopa County, 638,214 voters have not declared a party affiliation, said Yvonne Reed with the county elections office. The county has more than 1.8 million registered voters.
Voters have until one week before the election to request an early ballot.
The primary election includes partisan races for Congressional seats, the Legislature and county board of supervisors.
Three East Valley cities are holding nonpartisan elections at the same time.
In Gilbert, Mayor John Lewis is seeking a second term against his predecessor, Steve Berman. Incumbents Jenn Daniels and John Sentz are running for the Town Council, along with Jared Taylor.
Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny is running unopposed. Incumbents Rick Heumann and Jack Sellers are running for the City Council, with newcomers Nora Ellen, Scott Taylor, Terry Roe, Sam Huang and John Sibley Wolfe.
Mesa’s city elections are uncontested. Mayor Scott Smith and council members Alex Finter, Dennis Kavanaugh and Dave Richins are seeking re-election.
To find information about elections, go to recorder.maricopa.gov or call (602) 506-1511.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com
Centrist posted at 7:17 am on Wed, Aug 1, 2012.
So, this is good news, yes! Whatever it takes to remove the republican stronghold on this state. Do you know that every day the republican controlled legislature develops laws that restrict the freedoms of Arizona citizens, giving them less rights then citizens of the other 49 states, all in the name of "big business." Why do we allow it?
downtownresident posted at 8:23 am on Sat, Aug 4, 2012.
One thing for sure, I won't be voting for any dirty politicians, like Russell Pearce.
This guy is such a lowlife that he can't even run an honest campaign. Remember Olivia Cortez??? Maybe she's the founder and president of the Arizona Teachers Association, the name of a radical PAC that is pretending to be a "teachers" association, although there are no teachers in it. Only liars, helping liars.
Come on people why not slither back under that rock and let some honest people try their hand at running things.
downtownresident posted at 9:29 am on Sat, Aug 4, 2012.
I'd be remiss if I didn't give proper credit to the other dirty tricks champion, Lester Pearce.
The arrogance of these two "fine, upstanding" Mormon boys could gag a maggot.
I just finished marking my mail-in ballot. I voted for Steve Churci and Bob Worsely.
Two men of honor and ethics. Qualities both Pearce boys know nothing about!
The Pearce bros are both shining examples of the Mormon faith. NOT.