City Sees Low NH Primary Voter Turnout

After visiting all five Portsmouth wards on Tuesday morning, one would be hard-pressed to believe the NH Primary was actually happening here today.

As of 1 p.m. this afternoon, voter turnout remained relatively low at all five city wards, according to local election officials. Outside of each polling place, supporters for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign held signs and greeted voters, but there were very few supporters present for any of the Republican Presidential candidates.

At Ward 5 at Little Harbour School, some Portsmouth Democrats who voted for Obama hoped the voter turnout would improve as the day went on regardless of party affiliation.

"I think it's important for everyone, not just Republicans, Democrats or Independents, but everyone to vote," said Marianne Pernold of Portsmouth. "As we've seen in Iowa, one vote makes a difference."

Pernold said she has seen first hand how just one event can change the outcome of a NH Primary. She said she was the one who asked former Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham-Clinton about the rigors of campaigning in Popovers on the Square in downtown Portsmouth in 2008, which caused the now Secretary of State to say, "It's hard," as she fought back her tears.

Clinton ended up edging out then Illinois Senator Barack Obama to win the NH Democratic Primary in 2008.

When asked who she would like to see come out on top for the Republicans in today's NH Primary, Pernold replied she is pulling for former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.

"He's a quiet warrior," she said. "He says what needs to be heard."

Josh Denton also made sure he voted for President Obama before he resumed holding a campaign sign for the President outside of Little Harbour School. The Iraq War veteran said he voted in the NH Primary today because "It's our right and I enjoy using it."

At 10 a.m., Ward 5 Moderator Brian Wazlaw wished more Portsmouth residents chose to exercise their Constitutional right to vote. He said 173 ballots were cast at that point out of 3,263 registered voters. Of that number, Ward 5 has 1,418 registered Democrats, 676 registered Republicans and 1,169 undeclared voters.

Wazlaw was optimistic that Ward 5 could see a voter turnout of 25- to 30 percent by the time the polls close at 7 p.m.

The same story was repeated at Ward 2 at the North Parish House on Spinney Road. Ward 2 Moderator Timothy Wheelock said 216 ballots were cast out of the ward's 2,713 voters. Of that number, there are 1,351 registered Democrats, 435 registered Republicans, and 963 undeclared voters.

Wheelock said he was seeing undeclared voters doing same day registrations so they could vote in either in the NH Democratic or Republican Primary contests and then switching back to undeclared status after casting their ballots.

At Ward 3 at the Sherburne School, Ward 3 Moderator Ray Mullaly said voter turnout was low as of 12:30 p.m. There were 221 ballots cast out of the ward's 1,622 registered voters. Of that number, there are 731 registered Democrats, 346 registered Republicans, and 545 undeclared voters.

"I thought it would be heavier given the competitiveness of the Republican field," said Mullaly. "I expected we'd have a big gang of signs out there for the various candidates."

Outside the Sherburne School, which is also known as the Robert J. Lister Academy, Joan Jacobs of Portsmouth held a sign supporting President Barack Obama. "We're getting into fighting shape for 2012," she said.

At Ward 4 at the Dondero School, Ward 4 Moderator Gerald Ward said he was surprised voter turnout was not higher. As of 12 noon, 335 ballots had been cast out of the ward's 3,483 registered voters. Of that number, there are 1,311 registered Democrats, 863 registered Republicans and 1,309 undeclared voters.

Ward said based on what he had seen for activity thus far, he was hopeful they could achieve a 36 percent voter turnout.

Ward 1 Moderator Petra Pantelakos-Barstow said she was not surprised there was such a low voter turnout at the New Franklin School. As of early this afternoon, she said there were 267 ballots cast out of the ward's 2,336 registered voters. Of that number there are 1,089 registered Democrats. 399 registered Republicans and 848 undeclared voters.

She believes the lack of a contested Democratic Primary combined with the pundits' predictions that Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney was assured for a big win in the Republican Primary may be keeping some city voters away.

"It doesn't surprise me," she said. "I've been doing this a long time. It's just been a very slow, steady flow."

Pantelakos-Barstow predicted the city would see a much larger voter turnout for the general election in November when President Obama is pitted against one of the Republican Presidential candidates vying for the NH Primary tonight and the nomination later this summer.