After an increase of voters in the June primary from past
primaries in 2002 and 2006, elections official Joe Paul Gonzalez
expects more than 60 percent of the 24,000 registered voters to
vote come November 2.
Nearly 43 percent of voters filled out ballots for June’s
primary
– a 3 percent increase over the 2006 primary.
”
It was a pleasant surprise that it had that turnout,
”
Gonzalez said.
”
The thing is everything came in so late
– that was the biggest surprise.
”
In May, Gonzalez predicted a low turnout
– in the 30 percent range – because of the low amount of mail-in
ballots that were turned in at that time. The early ballots are
usually an indicator of how many people will go to the polls on
Election Day.
After an increase of voters in the June primary from past primaries in 2002 and 2006, elections official Joe Paul Gonzalez expects more than 60 percent of the 24,000 registered voters to vote come November 2.
Nearly 43 percent of voters filled out ballots for June’s primary – a 3 percent increase over the 2006 primary.
“It was a pleasant surprise that it had that turnout,” Gonzalez said. “The thing is everything came in so late – that was the biggest surprise.”
In May, Gonzalez predicted a low turnout – in the 30 percent range – because of the low amount of mail-in ballots that were turned in at that time. The early ballots are usually an indicator of how many people will go to the polls on Election Day.
This year, most of the mail-in ballots arrived the day before, Gonzalez said. The late ballots delayed the counting of the final ballots for a couple of days – final numbers weren’t posted until June 11.
“People waited to the last moment to vote,” he said. “I would say it was voter indecision. People didn’t know who to vote for.”
Gonzalez said he expects more people go to the polls in November – he expects a large turnout.
“It’s been a long time since we had a sheriff’s race that had an open seat and that usually generates a lot of interest,” he said. “The biggest thing is we are electing a new governor.”
In the past two non-presidential elections voter turnout was 47 percent in 2002 and 59 percent in 2006. This year, Gonzalez expects more because of the important local races.
In the sheriff’s race, candidates Darren Thompson and Pat Turturici will square off. The District 4 race is up for grabs between two business-oriented finalists, Phil Fortino and Jerry Muenzer.
Gonzalez expects all the local candidates to bring in a lot of support and even help more people register to vote, he said.
To help make the election smoother, Gonzalez is trying to utilize a new software that will allow candidates to turn in their campaign disclosures on the Internet and on time. The new program will also post the disclosures online quicker.
Candidates from the primary must remove all their signs by June 18. Signs for the November election can’t be put up until early August – 90 days before the general election.
