Primary Turnout Low So Far

Turnout for the primary today has been light so far, according to area poll workers.

Allison Campbell said turnout had been light so far at the Central Clemson Library 

“I think a lot of it is just the weather, early morning, possibly some of it could be confusion (over the ballots),” Campbell said. “We’ve had some people asking questions, but for the most part I think it’s the time of the day and location.”

She said she expected turnout to pick up later in the day.

“Definitely a few months ago, we had a much bigger turnout than we’ve had so far,” Campbell said.

Campbell and other poll workers were out in front of the library at 5:30 this morning, measuring out the distance required for campaign materials to be from the polling place.

She said working the polls was “something that I felt I could do to give back and be part of the community.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the experience of it all, learning more about what all goes behind the scenes and the importance of what we’re doing.” Campbell said. 

Turnout at R.C. Edwards Middle School has been “really light so far,” said Poll Clerk Suzan Potter.

“I think we’ve only had about 10 or 12 voters so far,” she said.

The weather had cleared by the time Potter spoke with Patch, so she didn’t think it was the threat of rain that was keeping voters home so far.

“I think there’s a lot of confusion,” Potter said, on the ballot controversy that has seen candidates thrown off ballots in recent weeks. “I wonder if it’s going to count in the long run.”

Primaries typically have lower turnout, she said.

“Especially when the presidential primary is separate from the other primaries, the interest kind of dies off,” Potter said.

Potter has been a poll clerk for 10 years. Her parents were poll workers and encouraged her to get involved.

“They were like, ‘We need younger people doing it, so come help us out,’ so I did,” she said.

Potter actually took the day off from Edwards Middle so she could work the polls.