7,000 voters get jump on city's election

More than 7,000 mail-in ballots had already been counted by Monday afternoon for the city special election to determine the fate of the 2 percent hospitality tax.

Polls are open today from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for those city residents who have yet to cast their ballot. There are 18 polling places for the special election, with some of the precincts consolidated.

To be counted, mail-in ballots that have not been returned yet must be submitted by the close of polls at 7 p.m. The mail-in ballots may be dropped off at any of the polling places or taken to the Yuma County Recorder's Office at 410 S. Maiden Lane. There is a secured box in front of the Recorder's Office or people can bring their ballots inside, where staff will be on hand from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., said Recorder Robyn Pouquette.

For polling place and other information, people can call the Recorder's Office at 373-6022. There also is a map of polling places on the city's Web site at www.YumaAz.gov.

As of mid-afternoon Monday, a total of 7,315 mail ballots had been returned, of 10,360 that were sent out, Pouquette said. Of those received, the Yuma County Elections office had counted 7,073 by mid-afternoon Monday, having started on Sunday.

In comparison, a total of 7,249 ballots were cast in the 2007 city primary elecion, noted Greg Hyland, city spokesman. Of those, 4,469 were mail-in ballots.

Pouquette said at last count, there were a total of 36,083 registered city voters.

Results of the election will be posted on The Sun's Web site at www.YumaSun.com.

They will also be available on Time Warner Cable Channels City 73 and Cuidad 72 as well as the city's Web site at www.YumaAz.gov/election.

The city is holding the special election to determine whether residents want the 2 percent hospitality tax renewed. If the measure fails, the tax will sunset on June 30. The tax is levied on hotels, restaurants and bars.

At stake is an estimated $4.5 million a year in revenue used to support the Yuma Civic Center and baseball complex, help fund the promotion of tourism and provide funding for capital projects and special events within the Yuma Crossing.

City officials have said if the tax is renewed, the revenue will also help fund new parks and recreational facilities throughout the growing community.

If it fails, the civic and baseball complex will be closed, they say.

POLLING PLACES

• Precinct 1 - Yuma City Hall, One City Plaza

• Precinct 2 - Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Center, 300 S. 13th Ave.

• Precinct 3/5 - Immaculate Conception School, 501 S. Avenue B

• Precinct 4/6 - Oasis Church, 1545 S. Avenue C

• Precinct 7 - Immanuel Southern Baptist Church, 1000 E. 24th St.

• Precinct 8/9 - Trinity United Methodist Church, 3030 S. 8th Ave.

• Precinct 10/16 - Yuma County Health Department, 2200 W. 28th St.

• Precinct 11 - Yuma Civic Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive

• Precinct 12/13/14 - Yuma Community Food Bank, 2325 S. Engler Ave.

• Precinct 15 - Gila Ridge High School, 7151 E. 24th St.

• Precinct 21/22 - Community Christian Church, 6480 E. Highway 95

• Precinct 34 - Gila Vista Junior High School, 2245 S. Arizona Ave.

• Precinct 35 - Centennial Middle School, 2650 W. 20th St.

• Precinct 36/37/42 - St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1550 S. 14th Ave.

• Precinct 38 - Ronald Reagan Elementary School, 3200 W. 16th St.

• Precinct 39 - Yuma County Health Department, 2200 W. 28th St.

• Precinct 40 - Vince Nelson Community Building, 2030 S. Avenue A

• Precinct 41 - Woodard Junior High School, 2250 S. 8th Ave.