Turnout looked low at noon, elections board says
Local elections officials across the state reported lower-than-usual turnout as of noon, says Ross Goldstein, deputy administrator of the state Board of Elections.
Goldstein said counties were reporting turnout ranging from 4 to 10 percent at that time. This matches what we've seen in the field and what candidates and their supporters have been saying all day: voters are MIA.
The 77,000 early votes account for 2.5 percent of the eligible electorate. Linda Lamone, state elections administrator, told The Sun yesterday that the nice weather and intense primary battles in some districts might actually drive up voter turnout slightly from previous gubernatorial primary years. She predicted about 32 percent. We don't appear to be anywhere close to that so far.
About 1,900 polls opened at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m. Will there be a post-work rush? Stay tuned.
Comments
I believe there is a lower turnout due to the economic downturn- when times are good people want to get involved...go figure-
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Posted by: Austin Roofing | September 14, 2010 5:55 PM
When I went to vote this morning in Canton, there was some confusion about the need for identification. People were being turned away without ID. The problem was solved when we left at 730am, but the workers indicated they had recieved the instructions during their training. They were asking for ID before even checking to see if the name was on the register - in which case no ID should be needed. I wonder if there was similar confusion at any other polling places?
Posted by: PattersonParkVoter | September 14, 2010 6:32 PM
I didn't need ID this a.m. in Riverside, as per the rules, I believe. They asked for my name, birth month and year.
Posted by: Carla | September 14, 2010 7:54 PM
Low turnout usually bodes well for incumbents.
The primaries are largely moot anyway this cycle and people know it. Outside of BCSA and BCE there is nothing really intriguing.
Posted by: HampdenJames | September 14, 2010 8:16 PM