Most years primary elections tend to draw smaller crowds – there may only be one party with multiple candidates for a seat or no amendments to drum up interest on the ballot.
In 2008, Polk County accounted for 14,560 registered voters. A total of 5,213, or 35.8 percent, turned out at the polls. In some areas, such as Tryon, the turnout moved closer to 45 percent.
But we believe this primary won’t follow the trend of past low voter turnout. There are important seats up for grabs come November, and the primary now could have a lot to do with the direction those elections go. There is also the heavily debated Amendment 1 for voters to cast their decisions upon, and we’re talking about a constitutional amendment, not something to take lightly.
Early voting can be done at the Polk County Board of Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., as well as at the Green Creek Family Life Center and the Mill Spring Fire Department Monday through Friday from noon until 7 p.m.
Early voting ends on Saturday, May 5, with all polling places open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You will still have the chance to vote on May 8, of course, but unless you just thrill to the feeling of voting on Election Day, which some of us do, you can beat long lines and get your vote cast in a matter of minutes.
The primary will be held at all Polk polling places on Tuesday, May 8.
— Editorial staff, Tryon Daily Bulletin