Voter turnout tops expectations, but still low
If you want a say, you have to show up on Election Day.
On Tuesday, May 20, about 21% of Butler County voters did just that.
It’s not as high as it could, or maybe should, be, but those who cast a ballot let their voices be heard loud and clear on Tuesday.
The voters chose two of the four judge candidates spread between two ballots to proceed to the November ballot.
Voters on the Republican ballot chose Deputy coroner Korynne Young to move ahead in the coroner race, while 1,062 voters on the Democratic ballot instead wrote-in candidates for this race. Come November, this race could be contested because of those write-in ballots.
In total, Butler County saw 19,218 out of 82,463 registered Republicans vote in the election, and 10,516 out of 38,793 registered Democrats voted, according to the unofficial results.
Twenty percent isn’t high. However, election bureau director Chantell McCurdy anticipated only a 15-20% turnout in the municipal primary election.
There’s room to grow, but the fact that Butler County topped her expectations is a positive indication.
Now, the waiting begins. In some races, the unofficial results from Tuesday evening will not match the final race results. There are provisional ballots and write-in votes to be counted.
As that unfolds this week, we’ll learn the full impact that those 21% of voters had on Tuesday.
— TL
