AZ. Low turnout is predicted for Tuesday's primary elections

Posted: 08/23/2010
Last Updated: 43 minutes ago
By: Tim Vetscher

One out of every five voters is expected to vote in Tuesday's primary elections in Arizona.

Analysts say there are several reasons for the low turnout.

The first factor, experts claim, is the new date, August 24th.

That's two weeks earlier than what it was just a couple of years ago.

Another school of thought is that independent voters don't realize Arizona's is an open primary.

Independents can vote in the primary of their choosing but some independent voters incorrectly believe if they're not a registered Republican or Democrat, they don't get to vote in the primary but that isn't the case.

Last but not least, analysts say some of the major races have lost some of their suspense.

In the Governor's race, Terry Goddard is running unopposed on the Democratic side.

On the Republican side, several of Governor Brewer's opponents either suspended their campaign or dropped out altogether.

"The marquee races, Governor and Senator, don't have any suspense attached to them," said ABC15 political analyst Mike O'Neil.

O'Neil says many voters also don't realize the importance of the primary.

In races without an opponent in the general election, Tuesday's primary will determine the winner.

"This is much more important than the November election," said O'Neil. "The November election's outcome is almost always predetermined."

And, O'Neil says, the primary gives you a lot more options compared to the general election, where you may only have two or three choices.

"When you go to vote in November, if there's two choices and you don't like either of them, that could be because you didn't vote now," said O'Neil.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/low ... -elections