Voter turnout lower than expected

Joe Pyrah

The turnout was so lousy in Tuesday's primary election that Bryan Thompson had time to notice the little things.

Thompson said there were plenty of machines plus some backups.

"They're still under warranty so they'll go ahead and swap them out," he said. "If that is the most major problem we've had, I'm thanking my stars."

It's not like the county's election office wasn't accommodating, either. Thompson went to the hospital to help someone vote via emergency provision. While he was there, the patient told the nurses that his vote would be counted no matter what.

The nurses' response?

"Vote? What's going on today?" Thompson said.