Low voter turnout in Muscogee County typical for Midterm election
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Published: Nov. 5, 2014 at 11:24 PM EST|Updated: Nov. 6, 2014 at 11:58 AM EST
More than 100,000 voters are registered in Muscogee County. Yet, yesterday's Midterm Election results reveal less than half of those who registered actually voted.
"We had about 42,000 people to vote yesterday, on November 4," said
"We had about 42,000 people to vote yesterday, on November 4," said
(WTVM) - Muscogee County Elections Director Nancy Boren.
Boren explained that this year's numbers are lower than in the 2010 Midterm Election.
"So the midterm election of 2010, we had 48,000 people to vote," she added. "So, we had about 6,000 less who voted in yesterday's election."
One reason for this year's low turn out, Boren suggests, is the lack of local contests on the ballot.
"We didn't have that many local contested races,"
Boren explained. "
We had a state representative and a state senator race that was contested locally,but most of them were on the state wide level. So, sometimes, that drives voter turnout."
What did not change much between the 2010 and 2014 Midterm Elections is majority vote. In 2010, Muscogee County voted 57 percent for democrat Roy Barnes and 40 percent for Republican Nathan Deal for governor. This year, 39 percent of the votes were in support of now Governor Nathan Deal and 60 percent for democratic hopeful, Jason Carter.
What did not change much between the 2010 and 2014 Midterm Elections is majority vote. In 2010, Muscogee County voted 57 percent for democrat Roy Barnes and 40 percent for Republican Nathan Deal for governor. This year, 39 percent of the votes were in support of now Governor Nathan Deal and 60 percent for democratic hopeful, Jason Carter.
Although voter turn out was low, Boren says there's no cause for alarm.
"If you look at turn outs for midterm elections, they typically range in the 40 percent area," she explained. "So, it's about typical of a turnout for midterm elections."
Muscogee County election results are still unofficial and incomplete. The election's office is waiting on the provisional and military ballots to come in. Boren said the county is expected to certify the numbers and make them official on Monday morning.
"If you look at turn outs for midterm elections, they typically range in the 40 percent area," she explained. "So, it's about typical of a turnout for midterm elections."
Muscogee County election results are still unofficial and incomplete. The election's office is waiting on the provisional and military ballots to come in. Boren said the county is expected to certify the numbers and make them official on Monday morning.
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