Low voter turnout highlights Republican Primary race
Published 11:17 pm Thursday, August 4, 2016
With just three contested county races, Carter County saw a low voter turnout when it was all said and done Thursday night at Carter County Election Commission office.
After the final tallies were received, Administrator of Elections Tracey Harris noted that the numbers were significantly down compared to the previous election year.
“In 2012, our numbers were at 3791,” she said Thursday. “Our final totals for turnout were at 3480.”
Out of the 22 precincts across the county, voter turnout was at 13.25 percent with early, absentee and election results totaled. Citizens that voted Thursday was at 2063, while absentee and early voting was at 1417.
It was a surprising election cycle, according to the Administrator.
“We had some people thinking it was the presidential election,” Harris said. “This was a very low turnout for the election, it’s a little disappointing.”
As the night went on, the Commission facility saw a speedy work rate from poll workers, volunteers and trustees from the county.
“They’ve been great,” Harris said of the assistance during the night from workers. “We couldn’t have done it without them and the help of the trustees. “I appreciate all the hard work each of the poll workers did to make the election come together.”
While there was a bit of disappointment for the Primary election, Tanner-Harris went on to add the Commission is gearing up for what is expected to be a busy general election in November.
“We’re already getting prepared,” she said with a laugh. “The last presidential election, we had almost 10,000 in early voting, alone. It is going to be a big election this year.”