By Jacque Day
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-969407.mp3
Murray, Ky. – Just over 10 percent of Kentucky voters showed up to the polls yesterday in the statewide primary election. The Purchase and Pennyrile areas fell mostly under that trend. Jacque Day looked into the numbers.
Fulton County scored lowest in the region with about six and a half percent turning out to vote. Lyon County wins with nearly 13 percent. Calloway County fell close to the bottom at just under seven percent. County Clerk Ray Coursey says a consequence of such a low turnout is, seven percent of the county's registered voters have made the choice for the rest.
"I wish Calloway County had a reputation for being strong as far as going to the polls, and make a lot of those folks up in the central part of the state who run for office, make them really take notice and say, Let's go to Calloway County with our ideas and see if we can get those folks on board with us because... They Vote!"
As one example, the polling place at Martin's Chapel in Murray reported just five voters by 8:45 AM, nearly three hours after the polls opened. Coursey cites a lack of coverage as one possible reason for the low turnout. He says, many people were not even aware an election was taking place.
See a full list of the Purchase and Pennyrile voter turnout here.