In Arizona, independent voters account for almost a third of all voters. Many of these voters, out of principle, choose not to affiliate with a political party and choose not to participate in any party’s primary election. Also, many of these voters certainly choose to vote early by mail, like many other Arizonans.

Michelle Ugenti-Rita has a message for these voters. Pick a party or kiss your early ballot goodbye. She sponsored Senate Bill 1485, which requires that voters who receive an early ballot vote in both the general election and the partisan primary in at least every other federal, state or legislative election in order to stay on the list.

If the voter doesn’t do this, the voter can be removed from the early voting list. If you’re an independent who doesn’t vote in primaries, tough luck.

So, if you’re an independent who likes voting early, you have a couple of choices: you can pick a party, or you can support Ugenti-Rita’s opponent in whatever race she runs in next and sign the petition to refer SB1485 to the 2022 voters.

It’s clear to me which option I would choose.