An Arizona election official’s request to extend polling hours Tuesday was denied.
“We encourage any voter who wants to cast their ballot to be in line at any of your designated polling places by 7 p.m. and their vote will be counted,” the Maricopa County Board said in a statement.
BREAKING Maricopa County Board will not approve @RecorderFontes‘ ‘unprecedented’ request to extend polling hours from 7 to 9 pm. Polls will close at 7pm. Read full statement: pic.twitter.com/CNI6fh7OOB
— BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) August 28, 2018
Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes requested that voting booths for Arizona’s primary race remain open until 9 p.m. Tuesday night instead of the usual 7 p.m., after the recorder’s office became aware of technical difficulties with some of the machines.
Dozens of polling locations were not prepared to open at the start of the day, and at least four polling locations remained shut Tuesday morning.
The county board said the recorder’s office received $3.9 million for fiscal 2018 to improve technology.
Arizona’s Tuesday night primary vote includes the Republican Senate race between Rep. Martha McSally, former state Sen. Kelli Ward, and ex-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
