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Morning turnout slim for Tuesday primary election

May 17, 2011|By DAVID¿BROCK | dbrock@amnews.com

Clay Jackson

State election officials predicted 10 percent voter turnout or less today, and several Boyle County precincts saw fewer than 10 voters total during the first hour-and-a-half the polls were open.

Low absentee voting indicated voters may be few and far between to choose candidates for several state races, including the Republican primary for governor. The race will decide who faces incumbent Democrat Steve Beshear in November’s general election.

Other races, including secretary of state and commissioner of agriculture, and a lack of local elections have failed to stir interest.

Locally, those who turned out early appeared to a be a mix of people interested in the governor’s race and those who say they go to the polls no matter how unglamorous the contests on the ballot are.

“I believe in voting, and there are a lot of people who gave their lives for that right,” Gene Shaw said as he exited the polls at Inter-County Energy. “I try to vote every time. Even if I’m out of town, I submit an absentee ballot.”

Boyle County Clerk Trille Bottom said the voting machine at the courthouse had tallied only 96 ballots during early voting. Bottom, who last week said 20 percent turnout countywide would be very optimistic, didn’t expect things to pick up much today.

Bottom said a machine at the Millennium Park precinct had to be replaced before the polls opened, but there were no problems after voting started. Although light turnout means a lot of down time for poll workers, Bottom said the process remains the same.

“For every election, whether it’s local, state or federal, the same amount of work goes into it,” Bottom said. “[Poll workers] should have plenty of time to review all of the materials and be prepared for anything that might happen.”

State representative and Boyle resident Mike Harmon’s presence on the ballot as a lieutenant governor candidate along with his running mate for governor, Phil Moffett, provided a local draw for some, including those who want a wholesale shift in power.

Before voting at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on Lexington Road, Mike Rigsby said he traveled to Washington, D.C., for a Tea Party event in protesting President Barrack Obama’s health-care legislation. He said he was interested in the Tea Party-affiliated ticket and Harmon’s local ties are a bonus.

“The fact that (Moffett) chose Harmon helped sway me, but for me it is really about getting away from career politicians,” Rigsby said. “I am really supporting change in general.”

Polling last week showed Moffett and Harmon had cut into the lead of Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams and his lieutenant governor running mate, Richie Farmer, but were still trailing by about 25 percentage points.

Harmon, who will be at an election night event in Moffett’s hometown of Louisville, said Monday their campaign has been picking up momentum and the low turnout could bode well for an upset.

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