Even with multiple contested races on the ballot, including sheriff, U.S. Senate and other local offices, fewer than 2,000 voters had cast a ballot this week after weeks of early voting.
Now, Johnson County Clerk Susie Misiniec is questioning whether her hope for a 10 percent turnout this election is too optimistic.
The low turnout is disappointing, she said.
“It is so disheartening because you go to all this work,” Misiniec said.
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Low turnout is typical for primary elections, especially in years where voters are not casting a ballot for president. But in Johnson County, turnout has reached as much as 22 percent in past primaries.
Misiniec was hopeful to reach at least 10 percent based on the multiple local races, including three candidates vying for the Republican nomination for sheriff, and other races for Circuit Court judge, county commissioner, county council, state representative and U.S. Senate.
But in order to even reach 10 percent, more than 8,000 people would have to turn out for voting today and on Election Day, and Misiniec is doubtful that will happen, she said.
“I am disappointed, I am hoping we have more, but I don’t think it’s going to be an overwhelming turnout,” she said.
No matter the turnout, the county still does the same amount of preparations for each election, including training poll workers, programming machines and opening multiple voting locations across the county. And thousands in taxpayer dollars are spent, Misiniec said.
That’s what makes a low turnout so disheartening, she said.
“It is so much work, no matter if 100 or 100,000 vote,” she said.
She knows some voters don’t like to cast ballots in primary elections because they are required to select a party — Republican or Democrat — but that is the way the process works. And it is set up that way so voters can have a voice, rather than political parties selecting candidates, she said.
She was also hopeful that having three qualified Republican candidates for sheriff would also entice voters to come out, but she has heard from people that they aren’t sure who to choose and are instead going to stay home, she said.
And she can’t even blame the low turnout on poor weather, she said.
Misiniec is hopeful that the county could still hit at least 10 percent — and maybe more — if voters turn out today and on Election Day.
The county has worked to make the process as convenient as possible, opening five locations for voters today across the county, and 20 vote centers on Election Day.
“That is a freedom that we need to voice, many people have died for that,” she said.
“I wish people would take advantage of the opportunity.”
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Here is a look at turnout in past countywide, non-presidential primary elections:
2014: 9 percent
2010: 22 percent
2006: 16 percent
2002: 19 percent
SOURCE: Indiana Secretary of State’s office
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