Early voting turnout disappointing – Repubs still outpacing Dems 3 to 1

Primary Election Day, Tuesday May 29, will be the last chance for voters to weigh in and pick the candidates of their liking

Note: Reasons to vote, in case you need any:

√ "Without the right to vote, we'd be living in a monarchy or dictatorship. WAKE UP!!!"
√ "Your well being. Our well being. No brainer there!"
√ "Supposedly, voters are more likely to pay attention to what politicians say and also to how much that manifests in real life. Voting forces us to stay in the game and watch what they're doing."
√ "Because over a million men and women have died to let you decide on things as big as who your leader will be, who speaks for you, and even things like who the sheriff of your town will be."

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At the close of early voting Friday May 25, 7 pm – 5,122 votes were cast in the Republican and Democratic primary elections, combined. It is a disappointingly low turnout considering that there are almost 97,000 voters registered in Hays County. Votes cast in the Republican primary totaled (R) 3,886 and votes cast in the Democratic primary totaled (D) 1,236.

"I consider the turnout to be very slow," said county elections administrator Joyce Cowan. Cowan made no prediction of what the turnout might be on primary election day on Tuesday.

Primary Election Day, Tuesday May 29, will be the last chance for voters to weigh in and pick the candidates of their liking. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.

Primary elections, in which the parties choose their nominees for the general election in November, are not known to attract great numbers of voters. An added problem in the current election cycle is confusion among voters resulting from redistricting. Hays County was split into three congressional districts and the boundaries have changed for county commissioners and voting precincts.

"We have had voters not knowing their Congressional Districts, etc.," Cowan said. "I would like to suggest voters try to get information on their polling location before going to vote (in the papers, websites, candidate's campaign materials, and of course our office)."

Sample map - New Voting Pct. 333

During early voting, voters could vote at any of five voting sites. On election day, May 29, voters must vote at their precinct voting location. (Check your yellow voter registration card for your precinct number, it's next to the date of birth box.) Click on these links for the voting locations for the Democratic primary and the Republican primary (then click on the small-print link near the top: May 29, 2012 polling places).

Two of the most watched races locally are for Sheriff and Precinct 3 County Commissioner. Current Sheriff Gary Cutler (FB) is facing a challenge from former sheriff and Texas Ranger Tommy Ratliff. In the commissioner's race, Sam Brannon (FB) is challenging two-term incumbent Will Conley. There are no Democratic candidates in these two races, so the final outcomes will be decided in the Republican primary.

The lopsided turnout in early voting in the Republican primary is a pretty clear sign that Democrats are crossing over to the Republican voting booth to have a say in the races for sheriff and county commissioner. No doubt the voters know these are very important local public offices. They carry considerable responsibility, power and authority, and, to you skeptics, they are also susceptible to abuse of power.

The sheriff's race is countywide. In Kyle and Buda, considered Democratic strongholds, votes cast in early voting went heavily Republican. In Buda, 701 votes were cast in the Republican primary and 224 in the Dem primary. In Kyle, 439 voted Republican and 234 Democratic.

The thinking has been that Democrats would come out heavily in Kyle and Buda in the Democratic primary to support popular Congressman Lloyd Doggett who is in a crucial primary election battle himself – and that does not appear to be happening.

So far, unfortunately, the races for sheriff and county commissioner have been marked by a lot of campaign hype and personal attacks. Hopefully, in the home stretch to primary Election Day Tuesday May 29, the candidates will do their best to resist lobbing bombs in their opponents' courtyards and focus on telling the public what exactly they intend to do for the citizens of Hays County if elected, or re-elected, to office.

– Bob Ochoa, Editor

EV results from the county elections and voter registration office (San Marcos results not included):

Wimberley

(R) 5/17 - 254 5/19 - 141 5/24 - 370 = 765

(D) 5/17 - 47 5/19 - 21 5/24 - 45 = 113

Kyle

(R) 5/14 -177 5/19 - 119 5/21 - 143 = 439

(D) 5/14 - 74 5/19 - 88 5/21 - 72 = 234

Buda

(R) 5/18 - 206 5/19 - 105 5/25 - 390 = 701

(D) 5/18 - 56 5/19 - 40 5/25 - 128 = 224

Dripping Springs

(R) 5/15 - 193 5/19 - 179 5/22 - 227 = 599

(D) 5/15 - 28 5/19 - 38 5/22 - 54 = 120

Republican Primary - 3,886

Democratic Primary - 1,236

Total EV - 5,122