Following redistricting, the new AZ-2 includes Cochise county and large parts of Pima and Pinal counties. Ron Barber, Gabriel Giffords successor, is running for congress in this new second congressional district. He is running against tea Party candidate Martha McSally.
The Barber/McSally race is as close as it could possibly be: less than 500 votes separates them. As I mentioned in an earlier diary, there is a big problem in Arizona right now with early and provisional votes not being counted.
In the entire state of Arizona there were more than 160,000 provisional ballots cast and only a little over 1300 have been counted, so far.
In AZ-2, where the margin between Barber and McSally could easily be flipped by provisional ballots, NO provisional ballots have been counted.
You can find the current full vote results at the AZ SoS elections site. Click the table icon to see a breakdown of all ballot types. This shows that no provisional ballots have been counted in AZ-2.
(more after the jump)
We don't even have information on how many provisional ballots were cast in Cochise county. So, at this point, we don't know exactly how many ballots we are talking about.
Pima and Pinal counties had 34,351 provisional ballots cast between them. I don't know exactly how many of those ballots were in AZ-2, but it is probably a large majority of them. AZ-2 includes parts of Tucson and Green Valley.
These provisional ballots not only COULD turn the race, but likely WOULD turn the race, considering the margin.
The election was two days ago. It is absolutely absurd that none of the provisional ballots have been counted yet. Rep. Barber has not conceded this race and neither should we.
I am posting contact information for the election officers in Cochise, Pinal and Pima counties. Please send them friendly emails asking that all ballots be counted.
Cochise County
Juanita Murray, Elections Officer
P.O. Box 223
Bisbee, AZ 85603
TELEPHONE (520) 432-8975
FAX (520) 432-8995
Email jmurray@cochise.az.gov
Pima County
Brad R. Nelson, Director
6550 S. Country Club
Tucson, AZ 85756
TELEPHONE (520) 724-6830
FAX (520) 351-6870
Email elections@pima.gov
Pinal County
Steve Kizer, Director
Physical: 383 N. Main St.
Mailing: P.O. Box 1592
Florence, AZ 85132
TELEPHONE (520) 866-7550
FAX (520) 866-7551
Email steve.kizer@pinalcountyaz.gov
4:57 PM PT: The gap between Barber and McSally has narrowed significantly just since I wrote this. There are now only 81 votes between them.
Barber.....119536
McSally...119617