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Arizona Primary 'Firing On All Cylinders' Despite Coronavirus Concerns

Aug. 4 is primary day in Arizona, and The Show caught up with Secretary of State Katie Hobbs just about 90 minutes after polls opened.

So far, so good, she said. And while there is still a lot of voting to be done and a lot of ballots to be counted, she said the smooth start to the morning was a testament to the preparation that went into ensuring voters have a quick and safe experience today.

With or without COVID-19, long lines are always a concern. But Hobbs said many Arizonans have already mailed in their ballots.

“We have seen really record turnout in terms of voting by mail, and so, I think that will, obviously, ease some potential congestion today," Hobbs said. "And in terms of after the fact, we’re focused on getting it right. Counties have up to 10 days to finalize their results. So, we do want to make sure voters know that their ballots are going to be counted.”

According to an early voting analysis from Phoenix-based Data Orbital, 2.3 million mail-in ballots were requested, and more than a million have already been returned. That’s more than in 2018 and 2016, putting the state on pace to hit at least 30% turnout, according to Data Orbital’s analysis.

Still, plenty of voters are expected to vote in-person or at least drop off their ballots at voting locations. And when they do, they’ll be greeted by poll workers who have signed on to help despite public health concerns.

“We know that the bulk of poll workers tend to be in that 65-and-older category, and just from what we experienced during the Presidential Preference Election, we knew that it would be challenging to have the same batch of poll workers that normally volunteers or works during the election," Hobbs said.

Elections officials turned to colleges and universities for additional support, she said.

The Show also spoke with Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes for a look at how things were going for Maricopa County.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.