Buckeye voters had the opportunity to vote for three City Council members this week. Unofficial results from Maricopa County show a combined 9,479 ballots cast in Buckeye’s Districts 4, 5, and 6. Those districts have roughly 39,600 registered voters, putting the combined turnout at about 24%.
In other words, more than three out of every four registered voters in the three districts stayed home.
Only one contested race
District 4 had Buckeye’s only contested council race, yet turnout reached just 31.63%. A total of 4,279 voters cast ballots in the district.
Patrick Hagestad received 2,141 votes, or 55.54%, while Pamela Croff received 1,714 votes, or 44.46%. Hagestad held a 427-vote lead in the latest unofficial count
Although District 4 posted the highest turnout of the three districts, more than two-thirds of its registered voters still did not participate.
Meanwhile, voters in Districts 5 and 6 had no choice between candidates.
Uncontested races draw little interest
District 5 recorded the lowest turnout at 16.46%. Only 1,567 of the district’s roughly 9,500 registered voters cast ballots.
Incumbent James P. Subjack received 1,353 votes in the uncontested race.
In District 6, turnout reached 21.96%, with 3,633 ballots cast among approximately 16,500 registered voters. Clay Goodman received 3,170 votes in that uncontested race.
Therefore, two of the three council seats were effectively decided before Election Day because no challengers entered the races. Then, when voting began, most registered voters did not participate.
Why did so few people vote?
Low turnout affected communities across Arizona. The Arizona Agenda reported that statewide primary turnout could finish near 25%, potentially marking Arizona’s lowest primary turnout since 2008.
Several factors may have contributed. The ballot lacked a U.S. Senate contest, and many Democratic races offered little competition. Independent voters also must request a party ballot to participate in partisan primary races.
However, Buckeye’s council elections are nonpartisan. The city’s turnout raises a more local question: Why did so many residents choose not to vote for the people who make decisions about growth, roads, public safety, taxes, development, and other issues that directly affect their neighborhoods?
Buckeye continues to rank among the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Residents regularly voice concerns about traffic, housing, utilities, development, and city services. Still, most voters did not take part when they had the chance to choose their representatives.
The latest results remain unofficial until officials finish counting ballots and complete the canvass. Maricopa County Elections last updated its results file Wednesday night.
