The Pima County Elections Department is sending out sample primary election ballots early to alert voters to changes in precinct numbers and polling places and to remind voters that they can still request vote-by-mail ballots.

The primary election to select local, state and congressional candidates for the 2012 general election is Tuesday, Aug. 28.  The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Elections Director Brad Nelson said that statewide redistricting and the popularity of early voting by mail have reduced the number of precincts and polling places from 417 in 2010 to 288 this year.

So voters need to look for possible changes in precinct numbers and polling places on the sample ballots being sent to their homes.

The sample ballots are being sent to households (“Registered voters at” the household’s address) instead of to voters by name.  For example, a husband and wife living at the same address and registered in the same political party will receive one sample ballot, not two.  A husband and wife registered in different parties will each receive a ballot for the party in which they are registered.

Should the date of the primary election or a polling-place change make voting in person difficult, Nelson said voters still have until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

Voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Pima County Recorder’s Office at www.recorder.pima.gov or by calling (520) 724-4330.  Pima County residents who do not know whether they are qualified to vote or who want to register to vote should also contact the Recorder’s Office.

It is too late to register to vote in the primary election.  Pima County residents who want to vote in the Nov. 6 general election must register before Tuesday, Oct. 9.