Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Early voting for the Sept. 12 primary closes today, Friday, at 5 p.m.

Gila County Recorder Linda Haught Ortega urged those residents who requested early ballots to put them in the mail today or drop them at either the Payson or Globe office of the recorder. In Payson, the recorder's office is at the southwest corner of West Frontier and South Colcord. The ballots can be turned in to the office or left in the drop box outside the office. Early ballots may also be delivered to the voter's polling place.

Early voting is down this year, Haught-Ortega said. "We had 2,952 early ballots requested and as of today, Sept. 7, only 1,945 had been turned in."

She said a lot of people are asking when they will get the information on the ballot propositions, expecting to vote on them in the primary. The propositions are on the general election ballot in November and material about them will be mailed out as soon as it is available.

Haught-Ortega said she felt the drop was due to the fact that it is not a presidential election year and there are really only two contested races for Gila County voters -- the races among the Republican candidates for governor and the three Republicans vying for the office of Payson regional justice of the peace.

The Republicans seeking to be the party's nominee to face Gov. Janet Napolitano in November are: Don Goldwater, Mike Harris, Steve Moore (a write-in), Len Munsil and Gary Tupper.

The contest for Payson regional justice of the peace is between incumbent Dorothy Little and challengers Dan Hill and Barry Standifird.

There is one other race of interest to voters in northern Gila County, that among the Democrats who want to run against Republican incumbent Congressman Rick Renzi. That race includes: Mike Caccioppoli, Bob Donahue, Susan Friedman, Vic McKerlie and Ellen Simon.

Where to vote

The voting polls will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, and remain open until 7 p.m. In northern Gila County the polls are:

Tonto Basin -- Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, Highway 188, Tonto Basin

Payson 1 -- Community Presbyterian Church, 800 W. Main St., Payson

Payson 2 -- St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 511 S. St. Phillips St., Payson

Payson 3 -- First Southern Baptist Church, 302 S. Ash (the northeast corner of Colcord and Bonita), Payson

Payson 4 -- Best Western Payson Inn, 801 N. Beeline Highway, Payson

Payson 5 -- Gila Community College, Payson Campus, 201 N. Mud Springs Road, Payson

Payson 6 -- Mt. Cross Lutheran Church, 601 E. Highway 260, Payson

Payson 7 -- Rim Valley Church of God, 208 S. McLane Road, Payson

Payson 8 -- Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Road, Payson

Star Valley -- Star Valley Baptist Church, Orion and Highway 260, Star Valley

Whispering Pines --Whispering Pines Fire Station, Whispering Pines

Zane Grey -- Christopher Creek Community Bible Fellowship Church, Highway 260, Christopher Creek

Gisela -- Gisela Valley Community Center, Gisela

Pine/Strawberry -- First Baptist Church of Pine, 4039 N. Highway 87, Pine

Young -- Pleasant Valley Community Center