There are around 1.9 million registered voters in Maricopa County. Of those, more than 1.2 million requested an early ballot. With just six days until the November 4 election, the county recorder’s office is waiting for those ballots to come back.

"So far we’ve gotten a 32 percent return on our early ballots that we have sent out and this is less than week before election," said Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell.

On the one hand she’s not surprised by the low return rate. After all, it’s not a presidential election year when voters typically come out in greater numbers.

But Purcell has another theory. She thinks the back and forth mudslinging between the candidates is turning voters off.  

During the 2010 midterm elections, Maricopa County saw a 54 percent voter turnout. Purcell thinks turnout might only reach 50 percent this year.