As expected, turnout for Tuesday’s election was slightly low in
San Benito County, yet higher than the dismal statewide figure.
As expected, turnout for Tuesday’s election was slightly low in San Benito County, yet higher than the dismal statewide figure.
Locally, 48 percent of the county’s 26,000 registered voters took part, while state turnout was even less than the predicted 43 percent.
“It’s kind of a trend it seems,” said county Clerk John Hodges. “On a primary election we find the percentages are low.”
Hodges speculated the local election attracted more voters than the statewide presidential primary because of three supervisor races and Measure G.
Elections officials must still count about 860 absentee ballots. The official turnout after Tuesday was 45 percent, but those added ballots will bump the figure to about 48 percent.
For elections with low turnouts, Hodges said the most informed “staunch registered voters” get to the polls. High turnouts, he said, usually heavily sway results.
And despite the Democratic presidential primary, a higher percentage of local registered Republicans – 51 percent – turned out than Democrats – 47 percent.
The biggest problem at the county’s 26 polling places, Hodges said, was caused by federal officials with the Department of Justice. They were in town observing poll operations to monitor the county’s compliance with minority voting rights.
Some volunteer poll workers from an array of locations complained about “intimidation,” Hodges said. He said the inspectors were “whipping badges out” and talking to poll workers – something county officials were under the impression wouldn’t occur.
“They were asking numerous questions to our poll workers,” said Lillian Perreira, assistant clerk/recorder, “who we have to remember aren’t elections staff.”
