I don't really believe that the date was a major problem. 22k MCPS employees were off yesterday and had all day to vote. In February the low turnout is always blamed on the weather, there's always some sort of excuse.

Personally I think it's a combination of nasty politics, 24 hour news cycle, talking heads, blind partisanship, idiotic voters, inept candidates, crooked politicans, lying politicians, say anything to get elected, agendas that don't reflect their constituents, smiling faces (remember the song?) etc.

Let me make this simple: "Marion Barry was just elected again in a landslide........."

I agree with Jeff that the date was not the problem. People tend to blame factors like date or weather but I am yet to see evidence that these are real factors for a large number of voters (there are always a few who will be affected, but in my opinion not enough to matter).

I generally disagree with Jeff’s opinion that the quality of the candidates is lower than at any other time (“inept candidates”) but then, I would disagree, as I was one of those candidates not so long ago (and by the way, in Rockville in 2011 the turnout was lower than in 2009). I will make one exception: the quality of the Republican presidential field this time around does seem worse than average; it appears that the most credible Republican leaders are sitting this one out.

I think most people generally do not follow Board of Education races, so this was not a big motivator for voting. Then there were the congressional races, where only a few, like district 6, were really interesting. On the presidential level both the Democratic and Republican primaries had little or no suspense. So, the turnout reflected this.

I worked at Maryvale Elementary for about 90 minutes before the close of the polls at 8. Voters were sparse but friendly, with the exception of one. I was there for Jeanne Ellinport, who was running for Board of Education. I was alone the entire time (no other candidate reps). Everyone who I approached was interested and most admitted to a lack of knowledge about the candidates. A few asked me what party Jeanne belonged to. The one unfriendly guy said he would not vote for anyone endorsed by the teachers' union. A couple said they had come out to support the Democratic incumbents for Congress. I drove my daughter to vote but couldn't get her twin to go--too much bother, apparently (he supported Ron Paul). They both had registered for the first time.

He was unfriendly and angry in the way he spoke to me...I am not taking issue with his position.

Politics has become a battleground that is unsavory. The people have reached a saturation point in the game of lies, lies and damn lies. Until politicians find a way to ignore the extreme segment of their parties and accomplish meaningful legislation the people will continue to remove themselves from the process. An unhealthy situation for our country.