Low voter turnout in Bryan, Effingham counties as residents decide county chairman races

Latrice Williams, Savannah Morning News
·2 min read
A "Vote Here" sign sits on the edge of Highway 17 in Richmond Hill during the presidential primary.
A "Vote Here" sign sits on the edge of Highway 17 in Richmond Hill during the presidential primary.

Both Bryan and Effingham counties saw low voter turnout as residents cast their votes in county chairman races in Tuesday's primary election.

According to results from the Effingham County Board of Elections, Damon Rahn received 3,103 votes while Alex Long received 2,890.

Because there was no Democratic challenger, Rahn will run unopposed in November barring a write-in.

The race for county chairman in Bryan County saw Carter Infinger claim 2,617 votes while Buck Holly received 1,677, according to the Bryan County Board of Elections.

All results are unofficial.

More: Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance holds inaugural Solidarity Shuk to promote community

Low voter turnout in Bryan and Effingham counties was seen on Tuesday as some residents say a lack of trust for politicians pushes them away from the polls.

Effingham County, the largest of the two, has more than 70,000 residents but just 46,235 are registered to vote.

Out of that, only 7,434 took to the polls.

Maurice Rahn, Damon Rahn's father, helps garner support for his son during the General Primary Tuesday in Effingham County.
Maurice Rahn, Damon Rahn's father, helps garner support for his son during the General Primary Tuesday in Effingham County.

In Bryan County, just 5,205 residents voted out of the 31,905 registered to vote.“I don’t vote,” said Pembroke resident Theresa Burnsed. “I’ve learned like a lot of people that politicians will tell you whatever they think you want to hear to get your vote, but once they’re in office, it’s all about that money. The ones we have now have already allowed big money companies to come in and ruin our little town. The arguing back and forth between candidates online is more ridiculous than having to listen to them argue on television.”Mary Jane Heyman, who lives in unincorporated Effingham County, said she never misses an opportunity to cast her ballot.

More: 'This is just the beginning': Georgia native Will Moseley places second in American Idol

“I vote because it’s important,” said Heyman. “If I don’t vote, I can’t complain later.”

Effingham County resident Holly Roy stressed the importance of heading to the polls.“We voted this afternoon and only one other person came in,” said Roy. “There were many things to vote on besides the judges and incumbent officials. We've voted since we were 18, and if you don't vote, don't complain about the outcomes.”

Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Low voter turnout seen in Bryan and Effingham counties