Light Turnout at the Polls

Voter turnout for the primary elections was light on Tuesday in Odenton and Gambrills, as a shortage of compelling Democratic races led to low interest.

Election workers reported just a few hundred voters at each polling place in the area, with few problems or complaints.

"It's been really slow," said poll worker Bruce McPherson, who counted 230 total voters just as polls closed Tuesday night at the West County Area Library. "We'll probably have about three times that in the general election."

The primary election had some compelling races, most notably the clash of incumbent District 33 Senator Ed Reilly (R-Crofton) against former delegate and business owner Jim King (R-Gambrills.) But nearly all races of interest were on the Republican side, offering little draw for Democratic voters.

For the most part, Democrats ran unopposed, including Jamie Benoit, the County Council member from District 4. There were no Democrats running for District 33 Senate seats and only one, Madonna Brennan of Gambrills, sought to represent District 33 as a delegate. In District 32, incumbent delegates Pam Beidle, Mary Ann Love and Ted Sophocleus ran unopposed.

Meanwhile, in the Democratic race for delegates from District 21, challengers Brian McDaniel and Devin Tucker were unable to mount a strong campaign against incumbents Ben Barnes, Barbara Frush and Joseline Pena-Melnyk.

Many statewide races, including those for Governor and Senator, are also expected to be less predictable in November.

It appeared that candidates followed the rules forbidding campaigning in close proximity of polling places. In fact, most campaign signs that had lined the driveway to the West County Area Library in recent weeks were gone by Tuesday morning.