JOPLIN, Mo. —
The fact that Missouri’s presidential preference primary would not count for much was not lost on local voters, at least judging from voter turnouts reported Tuesday by election officials in the region.
Turnouts topped double digits in only two counties in the area. Most voters in the largely Republican region stayed home, rather than going to the polls in an election that will not be used to help determine the Republican presidential nominee.
Voter turnouts among counties in the region ranged from a high of 11.6 percent in Lawrence and Barton counties to a low of 5.4 percent in Jasper County.
Ballots were cast by only 4,172 of Jasper County’s 76,789 registered voters, according to figures released by Bonnie Earl, county clerk.
All the turnouts were well below a statewide turnout of 23 percent that had been predicted by Robin Carnahan, Missouri secretary of state.
Earl said Tuesday’s vote, at minimum, gave some Joplin voters an opportunity to cast ballots in new locales after some previous polling places were damaged or destroyed in the May 22 tornado.
“That was my thought; with so many changes, we can look at this as a training session,” she said. “It will help people learn where their polling places are and let them get back to a sense of normalcy.”
Residents who choose to do so will get a chance to return to the polls April 3 for town and school elections.
The GOP decided to ignore the Missouri primary vote and instead use caucuses that begin in March to award the state’s 52 presidential delegates. Lawmakers in Missouri’s Republican-dominated General Assembly were unable to pass legislation to move the primary back to March.
State Republican Party Chairman David Cole, of Cassville, issued a statement late Tuesday saying that the state was playing an important role in the process of electing a president, even though the nonbinding primary “certainly is not an ideal situation.”
“We thank all Missourians who did their civic duty and made their voice heard, and we encourage all Republicans to attend the March caucuses and take part in the beginning of the process that will bind Missouri’s national delegates,” he said.
Statewide, officials were estimating costs of the election at between $7 million and $8 million. Local counties already have been paid for election expenses, based on cost estimates that projected $103,000 in Jasper County, nearly $53,000 in Newton County and about $16,600 in Barton County. Earl said counties will settle up with the state, by either submitting bills or reimbursements, after the final costs are tallied.
Democrats
RESULTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY Tuesday in Missouri will be used to award delegates for the Democratic National Convention.
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Related Photos
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Lucille Myers strikes a pose Tuesday that likely could have served as the poster child for election workers across Missouri. Voter turnout was light, extremely light. Myers was working at the polling place at the First Christian Church of Carl Junction. GLOBE | T. ROB BROWN
Discussion
Local voter turnouts for nonbinding primary lighter than predictions
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