Published: May 13, 2008 03:53 pm            

Voter turnout expected to be low

Monticello — If the number of absentee voters is any indication, it doesn't look like

primary election day will be a busy one at the polls in Wayne County. Wayne

County Clerk Melissa Turpin reported only eight people had used the absentee

machine in her office to cast early ballots. And about 38 local residents

had requested traditional paper ballots.

"That indicates that we won't have a very good voter turnout," said

Turpin. "At the most, it could be about 15 percent."

There is no local draw for Wayne County voters. Basically, the

presidential race and the race for the Senate seat held by Mitch McConnell

are all that voters will find when they head to the polls on Tuesday, May

20.

The republican slate for president includes six candidates, though all

those have dropped out except John McCain who has secured that party's

nomination.

Traditionally, Kentuck-ians have played little if any role in the

presidential primary race, but this year the democratic nomination is still

in play as voters go to the polls. Senator Barack Obama leads Senator

Hillary Clinton in delegates, but both candidates have been vigorously

campaigning in Kentucky the past several weeks.

That has been reflected in local absentee voting so far, with more

democratic voters showing an interest so far, according to Turpin.

Besides Obama and Clinton, the democratic slate of presidential

candidates also includes John Edwards, who has dropped out of the race.

There are eight candidates vying for the democratic nomination for U.S.

Senator, including: James E. Rice, Kenneth Stepp, David L. Williams, David

Wylie, Michael Cassaro, Greg Fischer, Andrew Horne, and Bruce Lunsford.

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell has one opponent on the republican side of

the ballot‹Daniel Essek.

A copy of the sample ballot for Wayne County is included inside this

week's edition.

Polls will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday and will remain open through 6 p.m.

Turpin noted that there has been one precinct change. The Sinking precinct

will be located at the corner of Highway 776 and Raleigh Creek Road.

Anyone with election related questions should contact Turpin's office at

(606) 348-6661.

        

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