Ducey Signs Law Moving Arizona Primary Election Earlier

By Holliday Moore
Published: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 8:48am

Arizona voters are now closer to the next election. Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation setting the primary for state and local elections to the first Tuesday in August instead of the last Tuesday of the month.

It’s the second time the primary has moved to an earlier date. A decade ago, the primary was held on the first Tuesday in September.

Proponents of the move say it gives election officials more time to handle challenges in the primary and prepare for the general election.

A group of legislators questioned, however, why Arizona did not follow other states and move it further back to May or June, before voters leave for vacation.

Politics