Yes, Independents Can Vote in Primary
The primary for a special election to fill a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, created by the resignation of Trent Franks, will be held Feb. 27 for Congressional District 8, which includes Anthem, Tramonto, New River, Desert Hills and parts of the Valley west of I-17 (map below).
Registered Independent voters, who don’t have a party affiliation, may vote in the primary by simply requesting a ballot for one of the parties—Republican, Democratic or Green—without actually changing their Independent designation, according to Karen Loschiavo at the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office. This can be done online, by mail, or at a polling place on the day of the primary.
Arizona voters are 34.6 percent Republican, 34.1 percent Independent, 30.2 percent Democrat and 1.1 percent Libertarian and Green parties combined.
Early Voting Deadline for All
Any registered voter (regardless of party affiliation) can go online before Feb. 16 to request an early-voting ballot by mail: www.request.maricopa.vote. Voters must mail completed ballots by Feb. 21, or drop them at a polling location.
“There is a lot of confusion around primaries, and the state and counties need to take the lead in informing voters,” Loschiavo told In&Out. “Voters shouldn’t hesitate to call us (602-506-1511) or reach out to us on social media with questions.”
Vote for Just One Candidate
When filling out a ballot for this primary, choose just one candidate. That is in fact the instruction printed on the ballots.
But the yellow “voting instructions” sheet, a generic set of instructions sent out with mail-in ballots but not specific to this election, contains the phrase “vote for not more than 2.” Voting for more than one candidate in this election would render your ballot void.
Voters who make a mistake and need a new ballot can call 602-506-1511.
Congressional District 8 Map
