Turnout steady, not overwhelming

By Julie Cooper (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Tuesday, November 3, 2009

NATCHEZ — Elections Commissioner Larry Gardner said voter turnout so far is on track to be at approximately 30 to 40 percent of voters.

Nice weather has helped, but the election most likely won’t come close to the turnout seen during the last presidential election, he said.

The addition of the recreation referendum to the ballot has helped turnout though, Gardner said.

“I’ve seen as much push on that issue as I have for the candidates,” he said.

Gardner measures his Election Day turnout expectations on the number of absentee ballots. For today’s race, 623 absentee ballots were cast. For the last presidential race approximately 1,500 were cast.

So far today, elections commissioners have responded to two election complaints.

The commission was notified that a campaign sign was too close to a polling place at the Bellemont precinct.

Signs must be 150 feet or further from a polling place unless they are on private property.

When a sign is closer, commissioners as the campaigners to move back. If necessary, the candidate may be contacted to move his own sign.

Voters also complained at a few precincts that the machines were arranged in a way that did not ensure voting privacy, Gardner said.

Commissioners worked to rearrange the voting machines.