Primary turnout usually falls below 30 percent, but the elections supervisor says the trend is upward.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published August 29, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams has high expectations for voter turnout - 60 percent to be exact - in Tuesday's primary election.
Williams acknowledged her prediction is quite optimistic, especially for an election taking place before Labor Day. After all, the primary turnout in September 2002 was 26.5 percent, and two years earlier it was 22.5 percent.
In the November 2002 general election, when Williams also guessed the county would have 60 percent turnout, 57.5 percent of the county's voters showed up.
But she is holding out hope that voter participation in the March presidential primary, which was double the turnout of four years earlier, was an indication that Hernando voters are more interested in politics this year than in the past.
Plus, she said, the ballot includes U.S. Senate and House races, in addition to being filled with 26 local candidates. Even for those not registered as Republicans or Democrats, there are nonpartisan races for School Board, county judge and circuit judge.
"If (the candidates) have been as busy as we have been, maybe that will encourage people to come to the polls," Williams said. "I'm basing (the forecast) on the fact that we've worked so hard on our (get out the vote) campaign."
She said early over-the-counter and absentee voting response, which has been heavier than in past elections, bolstered her expectation.
As of 2 p.m. Friday, 1,073 voters had cast early ballots at the elections office. Another 2,748 had returned absentee ballots, of 4,590 requested. Combined, they totaled 3.6 percent of the county's 106,965 registered voters.
By party, Republicans held a slight edge in votes cast - 1,836 compared to 1,710 by Democrats and 275 by people registered to minor parties or with no affiliation.
Williams figured that trend would continue through Election Day, because historically the party with the most candidates on the ballot draws the most voters. She stressed that all voters may cast their vote in at least some of the races, as the School Board and judicial candidates are nonpartisan.
Early voting continues through 5 p.m. Monday at the Elections Office Brooksville and Spring Hill locations.
"If anyone comes here on Election Day, we will encourage them to go to their polling place," Williams said.
Absentee ballots must be received by the Elections Office by the time the polls close Tuesday.
Williams reminded voters to try to bring a valid identification card with a photo and signature to their polling places. If someone does not bring an ID, they will be allowed to vote after signing an affidavit. She warned that people who registered to vote after Aug. 2 should not expect to participate in this election. Their registration will not become active until the Nov. 2 general election.
Early voting in the primary continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at either of the county's elections offices: Room 165 at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 N Main St., Brooksville, or at the Westside Government Center, 7493 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill.
Polling places will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m. The voting system remains in place whereby voters fill in ovals next to their preferred candidates' names and then scan their ballots.
Williams expected the results to be completed by 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. Afterward, the results will be posted on her office's Web site, www.hernandovotes.com
