What caused low voter turnout in the 2024 primary election?
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) — West Virginia had low voter turnout across the state for the 2024 primary election. The turnouts were so low, in fact, that only 29.17% of all registered voters went to the polls.
2024 West Virginia Primary Election Results
Mercer County has approximately 37,000 registered voters throughout the county, however during this primary election only around 10,000 of them cast their ballots.
That’s only about 29% of all voters in the county.
So why did so few people come out to vote?
Joann Wood, of Lerona, has voted early in every election that she could for years.
She said there are a number of reasons she can think of why people may not vote, but ultimately she still does not understand.
“I think maybe people just uncertain of, you know, who to vote for and anyway, and maybe, I don’t know, they just don’t want to take the time, maybe. And I don’t know, I really don’t know,” said Wood.
According to data pulled from the county clerk’s office, the party with the lowest turnout was the non-partisan party.
Out of more than 11,000 voters, only 269 cast their ballots, for a total of 1.9%.
Lyle Cottle, Chair of the Mercer County Republican Executive Committee, said being non-partisan could be one of the causes.
“And after a couple of elections voting non-partisan, you don’t get excited about somebody in a party and want to go vote for them because you’re not committed to either side,” said Cottle.
Cottle said being part of a party, either Democrat, Republican, or Mountain, means that you get to view the candidates more closely and can really get passionate about their message and goals.
He claimed the disconnect between non-partisan voters and candidates of a specific party are part of the reason why the county had such a low turnout.
30% of registered West Virginia voters voted in primary election
Lacy Watson, a member of the Mercer County Democratic Executive Committee, said everyone in the state, not just Mercer County, would benefit from more open and honest political discussions.
“We need to come together and start speaking on a more personal level about the concerns that we have and that will move us forward,” said Watson. “So, again, let’s talk about kitchen table topics, let’s come together as regular people in West Virginia and create some movement of citizens that it’s gonna take to reshape our state.”
Regardless of the party you have registered for, people are encouraged to go out and vote to make their voices and opinions heard.
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