BISBEE — Soon some 5,300 Cochise County registered voters will be receiving early ballots for the upcoming primary election.

Today, the County Recorder’s Office will be mailing out early ballots to those who have requested them.

“But, that number changes almost hourly,” County Recorder Christine Rhodes said Wednesday. “People are calling in, e-mailing and mailing in requests. So the number keeps going up.”

Residents can request early ballots until 5 p.m. on Aug. 22.

Requests must be into the Recorder’s Office by that deadline.

Early ballots provide a  convenience for voters.

People don’t have to worry about lines at the polls on election day or losing time at work to vote.

They can fill in the ballot at home and mail it in or drop it off at the recorder’s office in the county complex on Melody Lane.

On the primary election day, early ballots also can be dropped off at any of the 64 polling locations across the county.

None of the early ballots are counted when received by the recorder’s office.

They remain sealed until the polls close on election day, Rhodes said.

Residents also can cast their early ballot in person on an electronic voting machine at the recorder’s office. That is the only location in the county offering that service to registered voters, Rhodes said.

The last day for early voting with the e-machine at the recorder’s office is 5 p.m. on Aug. 29.

The primary election will be held on Sept. 2. Voters must show an acceptable form of identification with photo and current address when they come to vote, according to the county election Web site.

That can be a current Arizona driver’s license, an Arizona non-operating identification license, tribal enrollment card or a valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued card.

Without a photo identification, residents must bring two of the following:

• A utility bill (electric, gas, water, etc.) dated to within 90 days of the election

• A bank or credit union statement dated to within 90 days of election

• Arizona vehicle registration

• Native American census card

• Property tax statement

• Vehicle insurance card

• Recorder’s certificate

• Or valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued card.

County Election Official Tom Schelling also said on Wednesday that more polling volunteers are needed. Interested residents can sign up online at http://cochise.az.gov/uploadedFiles/Elections/SignUpForm_English.pdf.

For information on the elections and the candidates filings, visit the county Web site at http://cochise.az.gov/cochise_elections.aspx?id=238, or call 432-8354 or 432-8358.