It’s still a week until Election Day for the Town Council primary election, but a substantial number of voters have already cast their ballots.

As of a week ago, Feb. 24, the county Elections Department had received 2,500 early ballots.

The county had sent out 6,652 ballots to citizens wanting to vote early as of the same date.

There is a trend toward early balloting as more and more people opt to cast their vote by mail rather than going to the polls on Election Day.

For the past couple of elections in Fountain Hills more people have used an early/mail ballot than have turned up at the polls on Election Day.

To be counted in time for Election Day, early ballots must be returned to county elections by this Friday, March 5.

Ballots received later than that, up through Election Day, will be counted after the ballots from the polling stations.

Voters who still have their early ballot on Election Day may go to any polling station and drop it in a ballot box that day.

Fountain Hills registered voters are selecting three people to sit on the Town Council for four years.

Three incumbents seeking re-election include Mike Archambault, Ginny Dickey and Henry Leger. They are being challenged by Tait Elkie and Hugh Henry.

Candidates must receive more than 50 percent of the ballots cast to be elected outright during the primary voting.

If three candidates do not receive that majority, two candidates for each unfilled seat will move on to the General Election on May 18 for a run-off.

Newly-elected council members will take their seats at the first meeting in June.

Mayor Jay Schlum is also on the ballot for this election, but he is running for a second two-year term unchallenged.

Election Day voting

Those who prefer the excitement of going to the polls to cast their ballot on Election Day will find the polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.

Those going to the polls will need to have proper identification to cast their ballots.

One form of identification that has a photo and name and address is sufficient. This might include a driver’s license or non-operators identification card, a tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification or any valid United States federal, state or local government issued identification.

If a voter does not have one form of photo identification, they may use two types of identification that includes a name and address.

Examples of this identification includes material provided by the elections department such as a voter registration card or recorder’s certification, and any “official election material” sent to the voter that includes their name and address.

Also acceptable are utility bills dated within 90 days of the election, or a bank or credit card statement also dated within 90 days of the election.

A valid Arizona vehicle registration, Indian census card, property tax statement of the voter’s residence, vehicle insurance card or other valid federal, state or local government issued identification with name and address is also acceptable.

It should be noted that Social Security cards are not valid because they do not include an address.

Any voter who comes to the polls without proper identification will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot and will have three days following the election to provide proper identification.

There are nine voting precincts in Fountain Hills and five polling locations. They are as follows:

Precinct 1: Christ’s Church, 15555 Bainbridge Drive.

Precincts 2 & 3: Fountains United Methodist Church, 15300 Fountain Hills Blvd.

Precinct 4: Fountain Hills Unified School District Office, 16000 Palisades Blvd. (high school campus).

Precincts 5, 7 & 8: Fountain View Village, 16455 Avenue of the Fountains.

Precincts 6 & 9: Fountain Hills Community Center, 13001 La Montana Drive.

Any questions individuals may have regarding their registration status, proper identification or polling station information may be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office at 480-816-5100, or Maricopa County Elections at 602-506-151.

Much of this information is also available on the Maricopa County Recorder’s Web site at www.recorder.maricopa.gov.