Polls open 6 am – 7 pm for Tucson, South Tucson elections

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Tucson’s City Council primary election and the South Tucson recall election.

In Tucson, three seats are up for grabs in Wards 3, 5 and 6, with open seats in two of the races.

Meanwhile, in the mile-square city of South Tucson, Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela and two City Council members face a recall election.

In both cities, elections are conducted by mail and election officials sent ballots to all eligible voters.

On Election Day in Tucson, voting centers are open in each of the contested wards where voters can get replacement ballots or drop off their completed vote-by-mail ballots and eligible independent voters can choose a party ballot.

The Election Day vote centers will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave.; the El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.; and the Parks and Recreation Administration building, 900 S. Randolph Way.

Voters can also receive a ballot or drop off completed ballots at the City Clerk’s Election Center, 800 E. 12th Ave., from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In the South Tucson recall election, voters can cast ballots or drop off completed ballots at Sam Lena-South Tucson Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Voters in either election can drop off completed ballots at the Pima County Recorder’s Office Downtown branch, 240 N. Stone Ave., between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. or at any time through 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the Recorder’s Office’s new ballot drop boxes outside the Downtown office or East Side office at 6920 E. Broadway.

Any ballots not in possession of election workers by 7 p.m. will not be counted unless cast by voters who were standing in line at a polling place when the polls close.

The initial results — consisting of early ballots returned before Election Day — will be released just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday. With most voters casting their ballots early, those first counts will likely reflect the ultimate totals, which will be determined in the days to follow after officials verify all ballots.

Tucson election

In the Ward 3 Democratic primary, incumbent Councilmember Kevin Dahl is facing TUSD Boardmember Sadie Shaw as he seeks a second term.

The winner will face Republican Janet Wittenbraker in the Nov. 4 general election.

In Ward 5, where appointed Councilmember Rocque Perez is not seeking a full term, three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination: Local businessman Jesse Lugo, local businesswoman and consultant Selina Barajas and Peace Corps administrator Chris Elsner.

No other candidates have filed to run in the race, so barring a successful write-in campaign, the winner of the primary will advance to the Tucson City Council.

In Ward 6, where appointed Councilmember Karin Uhlich is not seeking a full term, three Democrats are running the primary: attorney Leighton Rockafellow Jr,. community radio station KXCI operations manager Miranda Schubert and retired science teacher Jim Sinex.

The winner will face Republican Jay Tolkoff in the Nov. 4 general election.

South Tucson

In the South Tucson recall election, South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela is facing write-in candidate Anita Romero, Councilmember Cesar Aguirre is facing write-in challenger Eduardo Baca and Councilmember Brian Flagg is facing write-in challenger Christopher Dodson.