The Aug. 8 primary election saw significantly less voter turnout than a presidential election, as expected by officials at both Springfield and Independence Townships.
‘I anticipated that it would certainly be lower than 2004,? said Springfield Township Clerk Nancy Strole.
The township saw nearly 21 percent of its registered voters make the step into the booth, whereas two years ago, 25.1 percent voted in the primary election.
Strole attributed the downturn in votes to the lack of hotly contested local races. Strole added when people forego their voting privilege in a primary election, they also pass up the right to vote on local issues that affect them directly.
These elections also saw the introduction of the AutoMARK voting machine furnished to all voting precincts as a result of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
The AutoMARK machines are used to assist disabled voters through touch-screen capabilities and hearing assistance programs.
The machines went largely unused in the township, Strole said, because voters may take longer to complete their ballot with the machine than to do so by hand. Also, disabled voters who typically use absentee ballots may simply feel more comfortable with that method.
Strole said election volunteers operated the M-100 tabulators, also mandated by HAVA with ease, however she noted there is a potential problem when the machines stack the ballots.
In Springfield Township, all the millages on the ballot were passed. Fire and police renewals passed with flying colors and a 0.5 mill proposal for an additional millage for the township library succeeded 1,184 to 812.
‘It really speaks a lot about our residents and their willingness to vote for what are needed millages,? Strole said.
‘I salute the residents of Springfield Township who don’t hesitate to support services they value even in economic times like this? it really says a lot,? Strole reiterated.
Independence Township saw a bit more than 17 percent of its voters in the booths Aug. 8. Voters approved the renewal of both the library millage (2,737 to 1,446) and the police millage, 2,793 to 1,394.
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen said there were no major issues during the polling.
‘I’m really pleased with the way things turned out,? VanderVeen said.
She said she was mildly nervous being this was the first election other than school elections under her watch. Pleasantly though, everything moved smoothly, VanderVeen said the township’s results were submitted in a very quick time ? around 9 p.m.
‘It was wonderful… it was a good forecast for November,? VanderVeen said.
VanderVeen concurred with Strole in regards to lower voter turnout typical of a primary election.
‘It’s unfortunate… that 17 percent of voters are making decisions for everyone,? VanderVeen said.
Stole said voter turnout for the 2004 Presidential election was 76.6 percent, while fewer voters voted for the 2002 Gubernatorial election, a 53.26 percent tally.