Light turnout expected in state's first Aug. primary

PHOENIX -- For the first time in state history, Arizona is holding its primary elections in August.

Experts predict between 20 and 25 percent of registered voters will go to the polls before they close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. They think the heat and humidity, which have put the Valley under an extreme heat warning, will keep some people home.

"That certainly is going to discourage people from going to the polls," said Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell.

News/Radio 92.3 KTAR's Jim Cross, out and about as the polls opened at 6 a.m., found illegal immigration and SB1070, the state's tough new immigration law, appeared to be the main issue driving people to the polls.

"I know the immigration issue's a big issue for everybody, and of course it is for me as well, but that wasn't the only reason I came out to vote," said one man, arriving at a central Phoenix precinct shortly after sunrise.

According to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, more than 3.1 million people were registered to vote. They included 1,119,389 Republicans, 1,001,256 Democrats, 953,503 Independents, 24,143 Libertarians and 4,585 in the Green Party.

"Independents must go to the polls and declare which ballot they want -- either the Republican, Democrat or Green Party -- but they certainly can vote in this election and should," said Purcell.

Purcell said some voters also will find themselves at strange polling places.

"We have more and more places that will not allow us to use them as a polling place, so we've had to scrounge around for polling places this year," said Purcell. "We've had to combine a lot of recincts into one polling place, so that's made it very difficult."

In the past, Arizona's primary was held in early September.

The date was changed, Purcell said, because, "It usually hit right around Labor Day and it's extremely difficult to get not only polling places, but poll workers, when you're that close to a holiday. And, a problem with getting that ballot ready for the general election."

Several high-profile races, mostly on the Republican side, drew interest in Tuesday's election, headed by the GOP race for U.S. Senate between Sen. John McCain, seeking a fifth term, and former Congressman J.D. Hayworth.

Ten Republicans are bidding for the District 3 House seat vacated by the retiring John Shadegg.

Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and State Superintendent Tom Horne were locked in a heated battle for the Republican nomination to state attorney general.

Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican who stepped into office when Democrat Janet Napolitano left to become Homeland Security Secretary -- is expected to get her party's nod for a full term. She started the campaign with formidable oppositions, but the other leading candidates bowed out in the face of Brewer's popularity after she signed SB1070, the state's tough immigration law.

State Attorney General Terry Goddard, is unopposed in the Democrat primary for governor.

Purcell and Secretary of State Ken Bennett both said the tone of the campaigns might affect turnout.

Purcell told 3-TV many voters are not a fan of the dirty politics.

In the years that I've done it, I've not seen the kind of races that we have seen this time, the mudslinging back and forth, and I think a lot of people have gotten tired of that.

Below, 3-TV covers primary elections:

Bennett says the dampening effects could include some races turning out to be less competitive than expected and the state's moving up its primary election by one week.

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