Low turnout expected at polls
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 10, 2010
Probate Judge Ben Bowden said Friday he expects a low voter turnout in Tuesday’s run-off election.
“We had 31 percent in the primary election, but I expect that since there is no local race headlining this ballot like there was in June, I don’t expect voter turnout to be very high (Tuesday),” Bowden said. “However, this race is just as every bit as important to Alabama and to Covington County as was the one in June.
“I also think that it’s going to be easier for voters to decide not to vote if they have a conflict that day, because there are no local candidates on the ballot,” he said.
Bowden said the interest in the Republican race for the U.S. Representatives 2nd Congressional seat, which has Rick Barber vying against Martha Roby, could draw a crowd to the polls.
“There’s good interest in that race statewide, and it might generate a little more local interest, but we’ll have to wait and see,” he said. Winner of that race will face incumbent Bobby Bright in November.
“The thing about it locally, is that the effort (on the part of election officials) is still the same even though there’s no local candidate,” Bowden said. “There will still be 26 polling places open and 100 poll workers working, and the night will be a duplicate of effort from before, which means results will come in about the same time since the mechanics of voting are still the same.”
Other races on the Republican ticket include:
• For Governor: Bradley Byrne faces Dr. Robert Bentley. The winner of this race will face Ron Sparks in November’s general election.
• For Ag Commissioner: John McMillan will face Dorman Grace, with the winner of that race facing assistant agriculture commissioner and former Florala mayor Glen Zorn on the November ballot.
• For Public Service Commission, Place No. 1: Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh is set to face Stephen Evans, with the winner facing incumbent Jan Cook in November.
On the Democratic ticket, James H. Anderson faces Giles Perkins in the race for attorney general, with the winner facing Luther Strange in the general election.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.