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Why independents often get left out of Arizona's primary elections

Primary season is almost upon us. Early ballots will be mailed out early next month. But not all registered voters will have a say.

Only Republicans and Democrats can vote in Arizona’s closed primary system, which leaves out about a third of the state’s electorate, who are registered as independents.

Technically, an independent can request a GOP or Democratic ballot, but very few do. Efforts to open the state’s primaries have failed thus far, but some are still trying.

To discuss the situation, The Show spoke with Dillon Rosenblatt, who wrote about independents and primaries for the Arizona Mirror.

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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.