Election judges in Howell County said voter turnout for the 2022 primary election was better than they anticipated.
Around noon Tuesday, election judge Brenda Hedden said 270 voters had cast a ballot in the day’s primary election thus far at First Church of God on Wayhaven Drive, the polling location for the Howell 1 precinct.
Hedden said voter turnout increased since the April municipal election, probably due to the two propositions on the ballot for the city and county and a couple of good races, such as the race for senator.
Hedden said all of the voters who had turned out thus far had been friendly, but “optimism is hard to gauge.”
Election judges working at the polling location inside the West Plains Public Library also observed more voters than they initially expected for the election.
“It’s been a steady stream, but it’s a primary election and not a general election,” said election judge David Kirk.
Bill Webb, working alongside Kirk, noted that not many people had come into the library by 1 p.m. Tuesday, but it was probably 50% better than he anticipated.
“I’ve seen a lot more people thankful for the right to be able to vote,” he remarked. “There’s been so much in the news about maybe losing that freedom or losing some part of it.”
For primary election results, watch the Quill online at www.westplainsdailyquill.net or look for Thursday’s print edition.
