Published: May 14, 2008 08:30 pm            

County Clerk expects low voter turnout

Heavily Republican county not responding to hot Democratic race

“It’s going to be a very, very light turnout.”

That’s Pulaski County Clerk Ralph Troxtell’s assessment of primary elections next Tuesday. Troxtell bases his outlook partially on absentee ballot applications and absentee voters.

Commenting shortly before the May 13 deadline for absentee ballot applications, Troxtell said only about 130 requests for ballots had been received. Also, at the same time, only about 64 votes had been cast on machines set up in the clerk’s office since April 23 for voters who will be out of town Election Day.

Some parts of the state reported an influx of new voter registrations ahead of the presidential preferential primaries, but that is not the case in Pulaski County. Since the November general election, a total of 335 new registrants are on the books. Of this total, 186 are Democrats, 103 are Republicans and 46 are voters registered under a label other than Democrat or Republican. A reflection on the red-hot Democrat presidential primary is more new Democrats than new Republicans registered in this heavily Republican county.

The Democrat presidential primary tops what otherwise is a humdrum ballot on both sides of the political fence. This is the first time in years that Kentucky has participated in a still-undecided contest for the nation’s highest office. Usually, by this late date, a nominee has already been selected by both parties.

At this point, only Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are still in play. And unless Clinton withdraws — and she hadn’t when this article was written — a goodly number of Pulaski County’s 11,580 registered Democrats may be attracted to the polls.

Clinton won the West Virginia primary in a landslide this past Tuesday and vowed to continue her fight for the nomination. John Edwards’ name is still on the ballot, but he withdrew long ago.

Republicans have tabbed John McCain as their nominee for president, a fact that may put many of Pulaski County’s 28,638 Republicans in a “why bother” mood. Five other former candidates’ names add clutter to the GOP ballot.

There is also an “uncommitted” box on both presidential ballots. This is for voters who would choose to send uncommitted delegates to the national conventions.

Kentucky Democrats will send 60 delegates to the party’s national convention in Denver August 25-28. Democrat delegates are apportioned based on the number of votes each candidates receives. Kentucky Republicans will send 45 delegates to the GOP national convention in Saint Paul, Minn. September 1-4. Republican delegates are winner take all.

Recent statewide polls indicate Mitch McConnell will be the Republican nominee for another term in the U.S. Senate. Daniel Essek, his primary opponent, is unknown and faces an uphill battle against the well-moneyed McConnell. Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fisher are front-runners in an eight-candidate Democrat field to unseat McConnell.

Somerset voters will nominate two candidates in Wards 1, 2, 9 and 12. This is a citywide election and top vote-getters in each of the four wards will advance to the November general election. Ward 11 will be on the primary ballot, but votes won’t be counted because one of the three candidates withdrew too late for his name to be removed. The withdrawal leaves two council candidates in each of the eight wards not involved in the primary.

Voters at Ansel No. 21, Buncombe No. 24, Mt. Zion No. 47, Eubank No. 25 and Fall Branch No. 18 will help choose a state representative during primary voting. These precincts are part of Legislative District 24 currently represented by Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon. He is opposed by Anthony Stargle of Liberty for the Republican nomination. No Democrats filed in District 24.

Several candidates, including 5th District Congressman Hal Rogers, R-Somerset; State Senator Vernie McGaha, and four of five state representatives from legislative districts in Pulaski County are unopposed in the primary and won’t be on next Tuesday’s ballots.

Following are voter registration statistics in each of the county’s 57 precincts. (Precincts are listed according to magisterial districts):



SOMERSET No.5B -- Democrat, 117; Republican, 316; other, 39; male, 216; female, 256; total registration, 472.

SALINE No. 11 -- Democrat, 425; Republican, 874; other, 74; male, 660; female, 713; total registration, 1,373

NANCY No. 15 -- Democrat, 329; Republican, 997; other, 66; male, 694; female, 698, total registration, 1,392.

HARRISON No. 17 -- Democrat, 98; Republican, 285; other, 13; male, 187; female, 209; total registration, 396.

SOMERSET No. 3B -- Democrat, 172; Republican, 281; other, 32; male, 222; female, 263; total registration, 485.

FIREBROOK No. 11F -- Democrat, 506; Republican, 1,203; other, 106; male, 892; female, 922; total registration, 1,815.

SALINE No. 2 -- Democrat, 555; Republican, 1,134; other, 99; male, 868; female, 920; total registration, 1,788.

OKALONA No. 16 -- Democrat, 143; Republican, 318; other, 24; male, 239; female, 246; total registration, 485.

E NAOMI No. 44 -- Democrat, 39; Republican, 127; other, 5; male, 87; female, 84; total registration, 171.

W NAOMI No. 44 -- Democrat, 57; Republican, 236; other, 13; male, 151; female, 155; total registration, 306.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT NO. 1 -- Democrat, 2,441; Republican, 5,771; other, 471; male, 4,216; female, 4,466; total registration, 8,683.

GIRDLER No. 12 -- Democrat, 127; Republican, 447; other, 49; male, 294; female, 329; total registration, 623.

HICKORYNUT No. 19 -- Democrat, 32; Republican, 184; other, 13; male, 128; female, 101; total registration, 229.

ANSEL No. 21 -- Democrat, 53; Republican, 378; other, 12; male, 235; female, 208; total registration, 443.

SCIENCE HILL No. 22 -- Democrat, 174; Republican, 581; other, 35; male, 358; female, 432; total registration, 790.

SCIENCE HILL No. 23 -- Democrat, 78; Republican, 377; other, 25; male, 223; female, 257; total registration, 480.

BUMCOMBE No. 24 -- Democrat, 242; Republican, 680; other, 55; male, 490; female, 487; total registration, 977.

SOMERSET No. 1 -- Democrat, 196; Republican, 385; other, 50; male, 253; female, 378; total registration, 631.

SOMERSET No. 3A -- Democrat, 191; Republican, 409; other, 32; male, 293; female, 339; total registration, 632.

MT ZION No. 47 -- Democrat, 124; Republican, 529; other, 26; male, 332; female, 347; total registration, 679.

EUBANK No. 25 -- Democrat, 258; Republican, 750; other, 66; male, 506; female, 568; total registration, 1,074.

ESTESBURG No. 26 -- Democrat, 166; Republican, 406; other, 39; male, 298; female, 313; total registration, 611.

FALL BRANCH No. 18 -- Democrat, 127; Republican, 472; other, 38; male, 296; female, 341; total registration, 637.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT NO. 2 -- Democrat, 1,768; Republican, 5,598; other, 440; male, 3,706; female, 4,100; total registration, 7,806. SOMERSET No. 2 -- Democrat, 117; Republican, 232 ; other, 19; male, 157; female, 211; total registration, 368.

CANEY FORK No. 13 -- Democrat, 307; Republican, 957; other, 61; male, 649; female, 676; total registration, 1,325.

SOMERSET No. 4A -- Democrat, 191; Republican, 336; other, 30; male, 233; female, 323; total registration, 557.

SOMERSET No. 4B -- Democrat, 318; Republican, 796; other, 75; male, 543; female, 646; total registration, 1,189.

PRICE No. 27 -- Democrat, 297; Republican, 878; other, 77; male, 615 ; female, 637; total registration, 1,252.

GOODHOPE No. 28 -- Democrat, 236; Republican, 449; other, 45; male, 360; female, 370; total registration, 730.

SOMERSET No. 6 -- Democrat, 346; Republican, 574; other, 73; male, 441; female, 552; total registration, 993.

HAZELDELL No. 29 -- Democrat, 123; Republican, 319; other, 23; male, 219; female, 246; total registration, 465.

VAUGHT No. 43 -- Democrat, 474; Republican, 1,272; other, 85; male, 862; female, 969; total registration, 1,831.

CATRON No. 31 -- Democrat, 79; Republican, 267; other, 19; male, 177; female, 188; total registration, 365.

DALLAS No. 45 -- Democrat, 22; Republican, 176; other, 9; male, 110; female, 97; total registration, 207.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT NO. 3 -- Democrat, 2,510; Republican, 6,256; other, 516; male, 4,366; female, 4,915; total registration, 9,282. ` SOMERSET No. 5A -- Democrat, 219; Republican, 374; other, 62; male, 295; female, 360; total registration, 655.

RUSH BRANCH No.14 -- Democrat, 160; Republican, 359; other, 28; male, 269; female, 278; total registration, 547.

PARKER No. 9 -- Democrat, 136; Republican, 360; other, 21; male, 263; female, 254 ; total registration, 517.

MARK No. 30 -- Democrat, 147; Republican, 642; other, 50; male, 413; female, 426; total registration, 839.

BOURBON EAST No. 10 E -- Democrat, 253; Republican, 647; other, 45; male, 451; female, 494; total registration, 945.

MAYFIELD No. 32 -- Democrat, 120; Republican, 638; other, 47; male, 404; female, 401; total registration, 805.

MT. VICTORY No. 33 -- Democrat, 91; Republican, 270; other, 14; male, 184; female, 191; total registration, 375.

FERGUSON No. 8 -- Democrat, 218; Republican, 548; other, 39; male, 386; female, 419; total registration, 805.

COLO No. 35 -- Democrat, 245; Republican, 685; other, 56; male, 493; female, 493; total registration, 986.

GILLILAND No. 40 -- Democrat, 192 ; Republican, 711; other, 44; male, 457; female, 490; total registration, 947.

SOMERSET No. 5C -- Democrat, 192; Republican, 343; other, 35; male, 257; female, 313; total registration, 570.

SOMERSET No. 5D -- Democrat, 69; Republican, 118; other, 12; male, 74; female, 125; total registration, 199.

SOMERSET No. 5E -- Democrat, 110; Republican, 212; other, 22; male, 136; female, 208; total registration, 344.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT NO. 4 -- Democrat, 2,152; Republican, 5,907; other, 475; male, 4,082; female, 4,452; total registration, 8,534. BURNSIDE CITY No. 36 -- Democrat, 173; Republican, 295; other, 22; male, 241; female, 249; total registration, 490.

N BURNSIDE CITY No. 36N -- Democrat, 17; Republican, 24; other, 7; male, 22; female, 26; total registration, 48.

BURNSIDE COUNTY No. 36A -- Democrat, 364; Republican, 846; other, 70; male, 603; female, 677; total registration, 1,280.

EAST BURNSIDE COUNTY No. 36E -- Democrat, 320; Republican, 612; other, 100; male, 436; female, 596; total registration, 1,032.

BOURBON WEST No. 10 W -- Democrat, 349; Republican, 800; other, 60; male, 587; female, 621; total registration, 1,209.

SOUTH BURNSIDE COUNTY No. 36S -- Democrat, 90; Republican, 147; other, 16; male, 125; female, 128; total registration, 253.

WEST BURNSIDE COUNTY No. 36W -- Democrat, 57; Republican, 97; other, 9; male, 85; female, 78; total registration, 163.

GAMBLIN No. 37 -- Democrat, 509; Republican, 770; other, 107; male, 694; female, 692; total registration, 1,386.

BRONSTON NORTH No. 38 -- Democrat, 140; Republican, 318; other, 45; male, 239; female, 264; total registration, 503.

BRONSTON No. 38 -- Democrat, 475; Republican, 836; other, 70; male, 686; female, 695; total registration, 1,381.

SLOANS VALLEY No. 39 -- Democrat, 215; Republican, 361; other, 42; male, 301; female, 317; total registration, 618.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT NO. 5 -- Democrat, 2,709; Republican, 5,106; other, 548; male, 4,019; female, 4,343; total registration, 8,363.

TOTAL 57 PRECINCTS -- Democrat, 11,580; Republican, 28,638; other, 2,450; male, 20,389; female, 22,276; total registration, 42,668.



Total registration indicates three more voters than the total of males and females. A state board of election official said the gender of three voters was not indicated on three registration cards.

Primary elections are party functions and only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote in state and national contests. Independent voters in Somerset are eligible to participate in the non-partisan city council contests.

        

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