With the Nov. 6 general election long since over and the also-rans fading into memory or preparing for 2014, numbers reveal Yavapai County set several records regarding voter turnout, early ballots mailed in and provisional ballots cast.
In terms of voter turnout, the 2012 general election recorded the highest number of voters in the county ever. Of the 124,156 registered voters in Yavapai County, 101,268 voters cast ballots, 364 more than in the 2008 general election.
Yavapai County typically has one of the highest voter turnouts in the state — 81.57 percent in the 2012 general election. The state average was 74.36 percent, which was also topped by Pima County at 77.82 percent, Maricopa County at 76.51 percent and Coconino County at 75.06 percent. Arizona’s other 11 counties were below the average.
“Historically, we’ve held the gold,” Yavapai County Recorder Leslie Hoffman said. “We have some very passionate citizens that take their civic duty very, very seriously, and they’re involved. We have a lot of people who are involved in our political community.”
Yavapai County has been above the statewide average since 1976, which is as far back as the Arizona Secretary of State keeps detailed records. The highest on record was the 2004 general election, when of 88,076 voters — 88.22 percent — of Yavapai County’s then-99,842 registered voters cast ballots.
Quadrennial elections, which include a vote for president, are always higher than midterm or annual elections.
The county and state’s lowest turnout during a presidential general election was 68.88 percent and 63.76 percent, respectively, in 1996 when incumbent President Bill Clinton defeated U.S. Sen. Bob Dole [R-Kansas]. Coincidently, 1996 was also the only time since 1948 when a Democrat won Arizona’s Electoral College votes.
For the full story, see the Wednesday, Dec. 5, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
