From the Arizona Republic:

Phoenix is proposing to consolidate nearly 130 polling places into 20 voting hubs for all city elections beginning next year. The move comes as an overwhelming number of Phoenix voters are choosing to vote early rather than at polls.

City officials said the new centers would eliminate confusion and provide greater convenience for voters on election day. They also would save tax dollars by cutting back on the number of voting sites and poll workers typically needed for elections.

But some voting-rights advocates worry that fewer sites could discourage participation at the polls, especially for seniors and those with disabilities who may not be willing to travel a greater distance to vote.