When Does Arizona Head to the Polls for Primary Election?

The 2024 election season is in full swing across the United States. Here’s when Arizonans can cast their votes in the Primary Election.

PHOENIX — Arizona is set to play a critical role in the White House race as it did in 2020. Tuesday’s state primaries will shape competitive contests that could determine control of the closely divided U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and both chambers of the state legislature.

Here is everything you need to know before Arizona’s primary.

**When is the Arizona Primary Election?**

Arizona’s primary election will be held on Tuesday, July 30. Voting begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, closing polls there at 6 p.m. Arizona time, affecting parts of three counties in the 2nd Congressional District.

**Where can I vote?**

A full list of polling places in Maricopa County can be found here. If you’re a Pima County voter, find your polling location here. For any questions about ballots, voting, and polling hours, visit the Arizona Secretary of State website for local election officials’ contact information.

**Who is on the ballot for the Primary Election?**

The Republican primary seeks to replace U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat-turned-independent. Sinema won’t seek a second term after U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego announced his Democratic candidacy in 2023. Gallego is running unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.

In the Republican race, ex-gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake faces Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and neuroscientist Elizabeth Reye. Lake has focused her campaign on Gallego and President Joe Biden, bypassing debates and receiving strong support from ex-President Donald Trump.

For the U.S. House, Democrats aim to unseat two vulnerable Arizona Republican incumbents in districts Biden narrowly won in 2020. Seven-term Rep. David Schweikert leads the Republican primary in the 1st Congressional District against businessman Robert Backie and ex-FBI agent Kim George. The Democratic field includes ex-state party chair Andrei Cherny, ex-local news anchor Marlene Galán-Woods, orthodontist Andrew Horne, ex-Reginal American Red Cross CEO Kurt Kroemer, investment banker Conor O’Callaghan, and ex-state Rep. Amish Shah.

Schweikert led fundraising, while Cherny raised the most among Democrats through June. O’Callaghan had more money in the bank, largely due to a $905,000 loan to his campaign.

**Who can vote in the Primary Election?**

Registered party members may vote only in their own party’s primary, while independent voters may participate in either primary.

Maricopa County is pivotal, contributing over 60% of the vote in the 2022 governor’s race. Pima County, a distant second, accounts for nearly 16%. Eight of Arizona’s nine congressional districts include parts of Maricopa County; the 2nd District, where Yavapai, Pinal, and Coconino are decisive, is an exception. The 6th District, primarily influenced by Pima County, remains unaffected by Maricopa’s vote.

**How long does vote-counting usually take?**

In the 2022 midterm primaries, the AP first reported results a minute after polls closed, ending the night with 77% of total votes counted. Recounts are automatic if the vote margin is 0.5% or less. The AP may declare a winner in such cases unless it’s deemed that a recount would not change the outcome.

**What does turnout and advance voting for the primaries look like?**

As of April, nearly 4.1 million voters were registered in Arizona: 35% Republicans and 29% Democrats. In the 2022 midterm primaries, turnout was nearly 13% for Democrats and about 18% for Republicans. With the early voting program, 93% of Democratic and 79% of Republican primary voters cast their ballots before primary day in 2022. Nearly 696,000 ballots have been cast before primary day this year, split between 45% in the Democratic primary and 54% in the Republican primary.

**Decision 2024**

Track all current updates on the upcoming elections in Arizona on Arizonanews.org.