Published: May 12, 2008 11:46 pm            

Large voter turnout predicted in Marion

FAIRMONT — Clear skies and milder temperatures are expected today as Marion County voters take part in an historic primary contest.

With a contested presidential race in the Democratic primary for the first time in 48 years, officials are predicting a good turnout.

Democrats — and independents who are so inclined — will also decide a number of courthouse and state nominating races on the Democratic ballot. Democrats opened their primary to independents for the first time this year.

A non-partisan contest to fill two seats on the county school board and a countywide school construction bond question should also attract voters, they said.

“I think we’ll have a good turnout” for a presidential year primary, said Marion County Clerk Janice Cosco. Voters can start casting their ballots at 6:30 a.m. The polls will close at 7:30 p.m.

In the Democratic primary, there are contested races for assessor, county commission, sheriff, magistrate and family court judge.

In statewide races, there are contests among Democrats for secretary of state (three contenders for the single nomination to run in the general election), agriculture commissioner (two for one nomination), and state Supreme Court (four candidates seeking two nominations).

U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan is unopposed in the primary, while Gov. Joe Manchin and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller face little-known challengers.

The county has 27,034 Democratic registered voters, 9,390 Republicans and 4,378 independents. There are also 21 Mountain Party voters and 877 in other minor parties for a total of 41,700 registered voters in the county, according to the secretary of state’s office.

A total of 2,489 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period that started April 23 and ended last Saturday, Cosco said Monday.

About 320 voters cast absentee ballots by mail. The number may go higher since absentee ballots that are postmarked by midnight today will also be counted in the final totals.

A task force of 380 poll workers will head to the polls before dawn. They will unlock the doors, turn on the lights and get the coffee pots going at voting places scattered among the county’s 76 precincts.

Independents can also vote in the Republican primary. Regardless of which primary they want to take part in, they must ask for that party’s ballot when they get to the polls.

Forecasters are calling for highs in upper 60s and partly cloudy skies.

E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com.

        

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