The Arizona Republic

Arizona is one of four states hosting a Democratic primary on Tuesday. The others are Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Find updates here throughout the day on what's happening at the polls and with the candidates. Polls close at 7 p.m., and results are expected shortly after 8 p.m.

9:30 p.m.: Turnout surpasses 2016

Despite the uncertainty caused by the new coronavirus, turnout for Tuesday's presidential preference surpassed the 2016 election.

Before today's in-person voting even started, turnout for early mail-in ballots beat out 2016.

The Arizona Democratic Party reported that nearly 100,000 more Democratic mail-in ballots were returned this year than in 2016.

There were also more Democratic election day voters this year (about 45,000) than there were in 2016 (about 35,000).

— Jessica Boehm and Rachel Leingang

8:15 p.m.: AP says Biden wins Arizona primary

The Associate Press has declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the Arizona Presidential Preference Election.

8 p.m.: Biden has lead over Sanders

The first batch of Arizona election returns show former Vice President Joe Biden with a lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The initial early results from the Arizona Secretary of State's Office show Biden leading 40% to 30% over Sanders.

7:30 p.m.: Some confidential voter information erroneously released

Arizona election officials said that the state's voter registration system wrongly released the confidential contact information of some voters ahead of the presidential preference election on Tuesday.

The state allows certain Arizonans, such as law enforcement officials and survivors of domestic violence, to keep their addresses off of public voter registration records.

But their contact information was included in regularly updated lists of voters who participated in early voting, said Cochise County Recorder David Stevens.

Those lists were, in turn, shared with the Democratic and Republican parties, which could download the files from a server, he added.

Stevens said his office noticed the problem on Tuesday. He said it was limited to seven voters, all Democrats, because only Democrats were eligible to vote in this year's presidential preference election.

"It's irritating. We are charged with protecting people who are asking to be protected," Stevens said.

The Secretary of State's Office said the issue did not extend to Maricopa or Pima counties, which use different systems.

And the problem was not a security breach, the office said in a press release shortly before 6 p.m. that declared the voter registration system remained secure.

"We contacted all the counties to let them know that their reports may also contain this protected information," Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in the statement.

A total of 78 names were erroneously included in counties' lists, she said.

— Andrew Oxford

7 p.m.: Polls are closed in Arizona

Polls for Arizona’s Democratic presidential primary are now closed, except for anyone who may still be in line.

Election officials have reported record-breaking turnout even before Election Day. Turnout at the polls on Tuesday was relatively light, no doubt because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is considered the favorite to win Arizona, and has already won in Florida and Illinois on Tuesday.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., lost Arizona’s primary, technically known as the presidential preference election, to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by 15 percentage points in 2016.

The first election results are expected to be posted by the Arizona Secretary of State's Office after 8 p.m.

— Ronald J. Hansen

5 p.m.: Two more hours to vote, Arizona

As the workday ends for 9-5ers, there are now two more hours left to vote in today’s presidential preference election.

Most polling sites have seen minimal lines all day, so voting should be a short process. In Maricopa County, you can vote at any of the 151 polling sites, and drop off ballots there, too.

— Rachel Leingang

4:40 p.m.: There’s a snake in my … polling place

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes sent perhaps the most Arizona election update of all today.

“The rattlesnake at the polling place on Pinnacle Peak Road has been dealt with,” Fontes posted on Twitter at about 3:30 p.m.

Dealt with how? That remains to be known. A follow-up question from The Republic on Twitter as to the snake’s, um, alive-ness, has yet to be answered.

— Rachel Leingang

4 p.m.: Independent voter who opposes Trump

Brigid Skoog, an administrative assistant in Scottsdale, is an independent voter who changes her registration to vote in primaries. In 2016, she registered as a Republican to vote against Trump. This year, she's voting for Biden.

"Trump is a nightmare. He's everything a president shouldn't be," she said outside a polling place at the Horizon Community Center in Scottsdale.

Skoog, 57, said she didn't want to vote for an "old white male" but said she had no other choice.

“Bernie Sanders can’t get elected,” she said, adding that she hopes Biden can.

Her first choice would have been Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, but she didn't know if America was ready for a gay man as president.

“We have to deal with people who stereotype others and with ignorance," she said.

Skoog said her largest concern about the country is a loss of credibility with the rest of the world.

"This whole nationalist movement is terrifying. We fought wars because of this happening in Europe. No one seems to (be) banging the gong. We live in a global community now. There’s no getting around that.”

— Katie Surma

2 p.m.: Scottsdale sees steady stream of voters

Turnout was steady in Scottsdale Tuesday. A county employee stood outside of one polling location to regulate how many could be inside at one time. He only had to stop people once or twice, though.

Scottsdale City Council candidate Tammy Caputi was situated outside another polling location to collect ballot signatures. She said people had been filtering through almost nonstop since 6:30 a.m. It was refreshing to see so many people come out and vote even in the middle of a pandemic, she added.

Caputi took precautions by providing hand sanitizer for both herself and voters at her table. She also kept the petitions on the table so she could keep her space and even bought new pens for signers to take with them.

Caputi mailed in her own ballot earlier. She didn't want to share who she voted for, but noted that the idea of a woman vice president was very appealing.

"It's 2020. It would be nice to have choices and people who represent everyone," Caputi said. "Decision-making bodies should represent all of us."

— Katie Surma

1:30 p.m.: Young voters unfazed by coronavirus concerns

Grand Canyon University student Harleigh Irizarry cast her vote at Sevilla Elementary School in west Phoenix.

It was the 19-year-old’s first time voting.

She'd been to the polls with her parents in the past. This was a different experience, she said.

“It feels a lot different marking the bubbles,” she said.

Irizarry said she came out despite rising coronavirus concerns because it’s important to vote and get involved in the community. It’s the only way to make changes, she said.

She wasn’t concerned herself but was cautious. She planned to wash her hands when she got home.

Lourdes Loredo, 24, also said health concerns weren't going to stop her from voting.

She participates in the election process each year to give a voice to those who can't, like her immigrant mother. She also votes to ensure that her large family will have a good future, she said.

The west Phoenix resident said she voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders because he is consistent in his message and is “for the people.”

“He stands for everything we’ve been looking for,” she said.

Loredo said she was shocked to see the polling place empty Tuesday afternoon. Four years ago during the presidential preference election, the line was backed up into the street and there was no parking available at the school, she said.

1 p.m.: Some poll workers cancel shifts amid coronavirus concerns

Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen said more poll workers than expected canceled shifts to staff polling places on Election Day.

"Yesterday was difficult for our poll worker recruiter and coordinator," she said Tuesday.

The office had standby poll workers and managed to staff all of its voting locations, Hansen added.

"So far today, very smooth," she said during the late morning.

But with health officials cautioning the public about crowds and advising older people to stay home as much as possible, the new coronavirus was bound to strain the legions of poll workers who make Election Day happen.

Nearly one in three poll workers in Arizona's 2018 election were over the age of 70, according to data compiled by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Noon: Officials say little confusion so far

The first hours of voting were relatively smooth despite concerns about coronavirus and a last-minute reduction in polling locations. Patty Ferguson-Bohnee with Native Vote said few issues were reported to voter hotlines.

"We haven't received as many calls as we expected to receive," she said.

The voter calls her group had received Tuesday morning mostly pertained to signage.

She said some locations that have been closed to the public — like libraries or university facilities — are still operating voting locations today. But there are signs indicating the facilities are closed, which has caused some confusion.

They've asked the county to provide more signage so voters realize that although the building is closed to the public for regular business, it's still an open voting location.

- Jessica Boehm

11:30 a.m.: Voters mixed about possibility of woman on presidential ticket

Sun City West resident JoAnne Jones was optimistic about former Vice President Joe Biden's pledge to pick a woman as his running mate. However, she said she will need to be the right person.

"We want integrity. We want honesty. We want smarts. We want someone who can work with other people without turning them off," Jones said.

Donna Mulembo of El Mirage shared a similar sentiment after she voted at El Mirage City Hall.

"There's so many powerful women," Mulembo said. "I was very happy to hear that Biden for sure was going to have a woman as his VP.”

Others told The Arizona Republic they would "100%" support a female vice president.

"It’s about time," Sun City resident Blanca Garcia said. “I think women are just as smart as men, if not smarter, and capable.”

But Peggy Paget of Sun City West said a female vice president wasn't important. That same move hurt the late Sen. John McCain when he selected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during his 2008 run for president, according to Paget.

"McCain made that mistake," Paget said. "I think McCain would have been our president if he didn't have whatever her name was from Alaska.”

- Helena Wegner

10:30 a.m.: 'I'm thinking of the future'

There was no line at T.G. Barr Elementary School in south Phoenix.

Ana Estrada, 20, was one of the few voters who scurried into the empty school building to cast her vote on Tuesday morning. She made it a priority to vote despite coronavirus concerns.

"I'm thinking of the future," Estrada said. "I am still being cautious, but if you don't come out and vote, that can affect what happens with coronavirus in the future."

Estrada, who described herself as a college student from a Hispanic family, said she voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"It's in the best for me," she said.

Tracy Challis, 55, also stopped by on Tuesday morning. She voted for former Vice President Biden. He wasn't her first choice, but he was the best option since the candidates were "dropping like flies."

Challis said she’s had to stand for 40 minutes in line to vote in

That was not the case on Tuesday.

“It’s like a ghost town here,” she said.

Challis said she's immunocompromised and has been staying home unless absolutely necessary recently.

But voting is a good reason to leave the house, she added.

- BrieAnna Frank

9:30 a.m.: Voters equipped with hand sanitizer, wet wipes

A steady stream of people trickled in and out of the South Mountain Community Center near Second Street and Alta Vista Road on Tuesday.

Andrew Romo, 54, said he wasn’t worried about the coronavirus outbreak.

"I'm not going to be scared from panic or anything like that. I'm just not going to let it get to me,” he said. “(I'm going to) go about my life."

Romo supports Biden, saying he believes he can “do a better job than what’s going on right now.”

Though he said he would be fine with a woman vice president, Romo said it’s important to do whatever ensures the Democratic ticket can beat Trump in November.

Romo noted the polling place was quieter on Tuesday than in the past. However, he did not believe it was because of the virus.

"Just because I feel that people wanted to get ahead on this and vote for a good Democratic candidate – that's it,” he said.

Romo said he would support Sanders if he's the nominee.

Lorenzo De La Cruz, 70, also voted for Biden. He also likes Sanders, but he believes Biden is more electable.

"I'm afraid some of his (Sanders') policies or issues that he has will not go over well with the general population and I would hate to see Trump win,” he said.

De La Cruz brought a hand wipe with him to use before and after voting, saying that he was worried about the virus because he’s part of a vulnerable population.

He and his wife run The Original Burrito Company in Ahwatukee and said the outbreak has negatively affected their business. They’ve been staying at home lately but wanted to make sure they got out and voted.

He hopes others follow suit.

"Basically, we need to get out there, everybody needs to get out there and vote,” he said. “We need a new president,” he said.

Arquetta Davis, 56, also voted for Biden. She said she does not believe Sanders is “the right fit” for office, but would support him if he gets the nomination.

Davis said she’s generally not worried about the virus outbreak. She did bring hand sanitizer with her to use before and after voting.

"I'm just coming early before the crowd got here,” she said. “I see there's no crowd here, so I don't have anything to worry about."

- BrieAnna Frank

9 a.m.: Some poll workers report steady flow of voters

Darrell Smith, a deputy registrar and poll inspector, said poll workers had seen a steady flow of voters at the Queen Creek Unified School District vote center on Chandler Heights Road on Tuesday morning.

About 20 people voted in person and another 20 or so dropped off ballots in the first two hours after the center opened, he said.

Though it was a little slower than usual, he was hopeful it would pick up later in the afternoon.

Queen Creek resident Robert Bill stopped at the center on his way to work shortly after 8 a.m. to cast a vote. He had no concerns about voting in person and said staff had taken precautions and was sanitizing machines.

Bill, who said this was his first time voting in a Democratic presidential preference election after switching parties three years ago, said it was vital to vote Tuesday.

“I feel this election is one of the most important in my life,” he said, adding that the Trump administration and what was going on at the federal level was one reason why he switched parties.

Bill voted for Biden in Tuesday’s election. He said Biden has experience, is more sympathetic to voters and would garner more support from moderates.

He said his fear if Sanders wins the nomination is that Republicans would paint him as a socialist and that would turn off voters, though he said he would support whoever is the eventual nominee.

As for vice president, Bill said he “100%” would support a woman and said California Sen. Kamala Harris or Amy Klobuchar would be great running mates.

— Paulina Pineda

8 a.m.: Voters trickle in despite coronavirus concerns

A slow trickle of voters stopped by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office in Mesa on Tuesday morning to drop off ballots and vote before work.

Mesa resident Julie Boston said she wanted to exercise her voting rights despite rising concerns about the new coronavirus.

“It’s an honor to vote, I wouldn’t pass it up,” she added that the vote center had hand sanitizer stations and she felt “perfectly safe.”

Boston said she voted for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to send a message that the country needs “real change,” despite considering herself more moderate than Sanders.

Sanders can lead on health care and climate change issues, she said. However, she doesn't expect him to win and plans to support the eventual Democratic nominee.

Boston would support a woman as vice president and said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar would make a great candidate because she would be able to garner support from middle of the road voters.

Tim Hall, of Gilbert, stopped by the vote center on his way to his Mesa law office.

Hall voted for former Vice President Joe Biden because he has experience and is the most likely candidate to beat Trump, he said.

He said Sanders is “too far out there,” but he would support him if he were the eventual nominee.

“I want to vote for somebody who cares about other people, who has compassion and who leads by example," Hall later added.

Like Boston, Hall said Klobuchar would make a good vice president because she could help carry more votes and would be more appealing to moderate voters than Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

There was no line at The Salvation Army Phoenix Citadel near Third Avenue and Fillmore Street when Jeff Walker, 48, came to vote for Sanders.

He came early because of long lines he endured during the 2016 primary at the same location. ​​​​​​

Concerns about the new coronavirus that prompted many officials to urge the public to stay home as much as possible didn’t particularly faze Walker.

“I’m not worried about the virus and I just think if everybody’s smart about it, you take all the precautions you can,” he said.

Jake Bartelds, 27, told The Arizona Republic he didn’t get his early ballot in, but still felt obligated to vote despite the coronavirus outbreak, which he said makes him “somewhat worried.”

“There’s always a chance you could get it which is kind of worrying, but I try not to think about it, I guess,” he said.

Bartelds also voted for Sanders, saying he’s the “only one who’s close to what the country needs to move forward into the 21st century.”

He wants a vice presidential pick to be someone who’s in line with Sanders’ goals and supports democratic socialism. He believes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, would be a “great pick” for vice president.

— Paulina Pineda and BrieAnna Frank

7:30 a.m.: What's at stake today?

Former Vice President Joe Biden is a heavy favorite to defeat Sen. Bernie Sanders in Arizona, as well as in Florida, Illinois and Ohio, all of which end voting Tuesday.

Sanders may find it harder to press ahead with his campaign if Arizona and the other states deliver most of their delegates to Biden.

Sanders, who visited Phoenix earlier this month, is counting on the state's significant Latino population to provide a boost for him, but recent polling suggests he remains well behind here.

— Ronald J. Hansen

7 a.m.: What type of ID should I bring with me?

Voters need to bring a form of identification to the polls. The following photo IDs are accepted:

Valid Arizona driver's license.

Valid Arizona non-operating ID license.

Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal ID.

Valid U.S. federal, state or local government issued ID.

If you do not have one of these forms of ID, you will need two other forms of ID. These can include a bank statement, utility bill in your name, Arizona vehicle registration, property tax statement in your name, among other options.

— Jessica Boehm

6 a.m.: Polls open

Arizona Democrats will cast their ballots today in the the state's primary, technically known as a Presidential Preference Election, despite growing concerns about the new coronavirus.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be able to vote.

If you received your ballot by mail and have not mailed it back, it is too late to return it by mail.

Instead, Maricopa County residents should drop off their completed ballot — sealed inside the green, signed envelope — at any of the county's 151 voting locations. You will not have to wait in line. There should be a box near the entrance of the voting location where you can drop your ballot.

Only registered Democrats can vote.

County election officials grappled with how to best serve voters while heeding public health advice about "social distancing" and unnecessary crowds.

As a result, there were some last-minute changes to polling locations.

The county closed 80 polling places and made the remaining 151 voting locations "vote centers" — where voters can vote at any location, not just the one in their neighborhood.

You can check your voter registration and eligibility here. It's too late to change your party affiliation to vote in this election.

Find the full list of polling locations on the Maricopa County Elections Department website or call 602-506-1511.

— Jessica Boehm