AP:

The Arizona presidential primary drew long lines Tuesday as people waited at least an hour in many polling spots to cast their ballots amid heightened interest in the polarizing contest for the White House….

Long lines were expected all day at polling places, Maricopa County Elections Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Bartholomew said.

Lines snaked up to almost every one of the 60 polling sites across the county, with the exception of remote locations such as Gila Bend or Wickenburg.

“All we can do is thank them for their patience,” Bartholomew said of voters enduring the delays. “They’re going to have to wait in line.”

The county cut the number of polling sites for this year’s presidential primary from 200 in 2012 mainly as a money-saving measure. In addition, the majority of voters get mail-in ballots, and independents who can’t vote make up more than a third of the electorate.

Evan Wyloge: “I wonder if the number of polling places we have in Maricopa County today would have been OK’d under VRA Sect.5. Good thing that’s gone.”