Area election officials project low voter turnout for Tuesday's primary

Most area voters won't go to the polls Tuesday even with contested local races and a heated Republican governor's race on the ballot, area election officials say.

Missouri's primary election will draw about one-third of registered voters, election officials estimate.

Turnout projections include 35 percent in Bollinger, Perry and Scott counties and 33 percent in Cape Girardeau County.

Scott County Clerk Rita Milam said if 35 percent of her county's registered voters cast ballots, "it will be good."

She and other county clerks said voters historically don't turn out for primary elections. More voters turn out for a November presidential election, they said.

Perry County Clerk Jared Kutz and Bollinger County Clerk Brittany Hovis echoed that view.

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers said even a highly competitive race for county sheriff likely won't spark interest from a large segment of the county's registered voters.

Summers said those who do show up to the polls for primary elections often don't understand they have to choose a party ballot. Voters must choose between Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Constitution party ballots, she said.

"You have to pick a party," she said.

Some voters come to the polls wanting to vote for a candidate in one party for one race and a candidate in another party for another race. Missouri law does not allow it, Summers said.

"People get so upset," Summers said, adding the concept of a primary is foreign to many voters. "They have no idea what that means."

Voters often don't know the party affiliation of the candidate for which they wish to vote, Summers said.

Sample ballots will be available at the polling sites to aid voters who are not sure which ballot they wish to take. But Summers suggested voters familiarize themselves with the candidates on the ballot before they come to the polls.

Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on election day.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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