Did you vote on Tuesday?
If not, why not?
It was slow going at polls in the early hours at many polling locations.
Patch reported low turnout at precincts in , , , , , and .
Voter turnout , but remained less than usual.
Primary election turnout is traditionally much lower than that of general elections. But elections officials and campaigns alike pinned the especially low turnout in Montgomery County in Tuesday’s primary—14.79 percent of all registered voters vs. 20 percent for typical primary elections—on timing.
Maryland’s 2008 presidential primary was held in February. Previous primaries were held in March.
The early April date, and , some opined. Election fatigue due to intense media coverage of a protracted presidential primary season and redistricting, leading to a lack of familiarity with candidates for some voters, also could have played a part.
“People are just turned off,” .
So what about you? Did you vote? Why or why not? Were you out of town or just “checked out” while the kids were on spring break? Have you had enough of debates and political talking heads on the television?
Why do you think voter turnout was so low?
Speak out. Leave a comment below.
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 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.
Irregardless of my cynicism I still went out and voted, I'm one those "idiot" voters I mentioned. Piotr....when I mentioned "inept candidates".... of course that meant that it did NOT include you.........it was that "other" candidate :)), although voter turn-out did go down when you ran :) was the weather bad? :) Piotr, as a long time voter I must say that I am generally disatisfied with the choices we are given, this goes for all the parties involved.
Bingo!