Initial voting in San Luis light

SAN LUIS, Ariz. — Turnout was described as light in the first hours of voting in the mayoral and council races here Tuesday.

As of 11 a.m., 96 voters had gone to the city's poll site at the Fernando Padilla Community Center for the primary election.

Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla is running for a second term against Nieves Riedel and Lilia Quinonez. In the race for three council seats are incumbents Archibaldo Gurrola, Marco Antonio Reyes Jr. and Rafael Torres and challengers Carlos Bernal, Mónica Borga, Juan Evangelista, Abelina Jaime, David Lara, Africa Luna and Marco Pinzón.

City Clerk Sonia Cuello said the Yuma County Elections Department, which is conducting the primary under contract with the city, was expected to begin releasing election returns at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, following the poll closure at 7 p.m.

She said initial hours of voting were marked by a high rate of questioned or provisional ballots being cast, owing to the failure of voters to present identification or other documents verifying eligibility to vote.

Voters failing to present proof of eligibility were still being allowed to cast their votes Tuesday, but they will have to present proof within days in order for their votes to be counted in the final tally.

Voting also attracted an usually large number of election observers - 10 representing candidates and two from the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.

Some candidates blamed light voting early in the day on windy, cool weather but said they hoped turnout would pick up toward the afternoon and evening.

Any candidate who receives more that half the total vote cast in his or her primary race automatically wins a seat. The candidates with the next highest totals will advance to a runoff or remaining seats in the city's general election in May.