Officials predict a low turnout

Apathy and lack of excitement or interest are two reasons, officials say.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- More registered voters in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys will stay home Tuesday than go to the polls, election officials say.
Thomas McCabe, Mahoning County Board of Elections director, predicts turnout in his county at 38 percent. Voter turnout in the county was 34 percent in 2003, the last nonpresidential election year.
He admits his prediction is probably too generous but expects more voters this year than in 2003 because of the contested Youngstown mayoral race and a few school board and township trustee races of interest.
"Voter apathy is the reason for the low turnout," McCabe said.
Taking a line from the Rush song, "Freewill," McCabe said, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
Even with low turnout, there may be some delays for voters because of the lengthy language for the five statewide issues on Tuesday's ballot, McCabe said.
Rokey Suleman, Trumbull County Board of Elections deputy director, expects turnout in his county at 45 percent to 50 percent -- the highest predicted turnout in the five-county Mahoning and Shenango valleys. Turnout in 2003 was 44 percent.
The turnout prediction is relatively high because of interest generated by the state issues, Suleman said.
This is the county's first election using electronic voting machines.
Read the language first
"If people are unprepared there is the possibility of lines" to vote, he said. "But if people take the time to educate themselves about the machines and the five state issues, there won't be lines."
Paper copies of the lengthy language on the state issues will be available to county voters at election locations, he said.
Also, the county board mailed instructions to residents explaining how to use the new machines, he said.
John Payne, Columbiana County elections board director, expects turnout in his county Tuesday to be 33 percent. It was 35 percent in 2003.
"I don't see any hot issues countywide," he said. "I haven't heard much talk generated about the county income tax or anything else" on Tuesday's ballot.
The Ohio Secretary of State's office estimates statewide turnout Tuesday at 41 percent compared with 36 percent in 2003.
Marlene Gabriel, director of Lawrence County's Bureau of Registration and Elections, predicts turnout in her county at 45 percent to 47 percent for Tuesday. Turnout was 45 percent two years ago.
"The races we have aren't generating any interest," she said.
Turnout is going to be exceptionally low in Mercer County, according to Thomas Rookey, the county's director of Bureau of Registration and Elections.
Rookey's prediction is 21 percent.
"Besides Sharon mayor, there aren't many competitive races," Rookey said.
"It's hard to get excited about voting when there are races with only one candidate."
The Pennsylvania Department of State doesn't predict statewide voter turnout.
Mahoning County, meanwhile, has changed some of its polling locations for Tuesday from the May primary. Its reasons range from the demolition and renovation of school buildings to being asked by building owners to move the polls elsewhere, McCabe said.
New sites
The changes at Youngstown precincts are:
U1H and 5G at the New Bethel Church Simon Social Center at 1524 Hillman St. instead of Hillman School.
U2K at the McGuffey Centre at 1649 Jacobs Road from the former North Junior High School.
U5A and 5C at the St. Christine School at 3125 S. Schenley Ave. from the Kirkmere School.
U7H, 7L, 7M, and 7N at the Faith Community Church at 1919 E. Midlothian Blvd. from the Brownlee Woods Church for all except 7L that was formerly at the Paul C. Bunn School.
Also, voters in Boardman 39 that voted at Bunn will vote at the Byzantine Catholic School at 5512 Youngstown-Poland Road.
Voters in Goshen 2 and 4 will vote at the New Damascus Elementary at 14405 S. Pricetown Road. They formerly voted at the K-8 Complex.
Those in Milton 1 and 3 who voted at the Jackson-Milton Elementary will vote at the Milton Fire Station at 15980 Milton Ave.
Those in Smith 2 and 4 who voted at the Maple Ridge School will vote at the New Hope Church of God at the corner of Oak and Bandy roads. Those in Smith 3 and Beloit I who formerly voted at the old Beloit Elementary will vote at the new elementary school at 14409 Beloit-Snodes Road.
skolnick@vindy.com