Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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November 5, 2008

America votes in record numbers but only 59 percent of registered W.Va. voters cast ballots

By GREG JORDAN and CHARLES OWENS

PRINCETON — Registered voters did their part on Election Day to give America one of the highest ballot totals ever seen in a presidential race.

An estimated 133.3 million Americans voted for president, exceeding the previous record high total of 122.3 million from 2004, according to the Associated Press. In contrast, West Virginia’s unofficial turnout of 707,700 voters was almost 62,000 less than the ballots that were cast in 2004. State election officials had estimated that voter turnout could reach 70 percent; this was based on high voter registration and record numbers of early voters.

In Mercer County, 21,505 of the county’s 36,288 registered voters went to the polls Wednesday, creating a total voter turnout of 59.26 percent, according to unofficial figures at the Mercer County Clerk’s Office.

Election Day totals for 2008 were comparable with those from general elections in 2004 and 2000.

In Nov. 7, 2000, Mercer County had 28,058 registered voters. Records show that 19,152 of them voted, giving the county a total voter turnout of 68.19 percent.

Records show similar voter participation during the general election on Nov. 2, 2004. At that time Mercer County had 29,206 registered voters. Out of that number, 22,636 voted, giving the county a voter turnout of 77.5 percent, according to county clerk records.

In McDowell County, 6,617 individuals, or 42 percent of all registered voters, went to the polls Tuesday.

While a great turnout, it was actually 2 percent lower than the May primary, Frank Kapish, an election official in the office of County Clerk Don Hicks, said.

However, the 42 percent voter turnout is higher than most election years in McDowell County, Kapish said.

“I know from my experience when I first started this in 2006, it’s a huge difference,” Kapish said. “Because in the general election in 2006, we had one of the lowest percentages in the state at just 26 percent.”

Tazewell County recorded a 61 percent voter turnout Tuesday, according to earlier reports from Registrar Debbie Barrett.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com or Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

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