Mostly Quiet at Manchester Polls

By Debra Daigle on Tuesday, September 12, 2006.

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Voter turnout in Manchester is at an all-time low on this Primary Day, according to that city's clerk.

NHPR Correspondent Debra Daigle reports.

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"That's terrible. They're too complacement."

Manchester city clerk Leo Bernier is talking about registered voters. He says, in his 44 years as the city's chief election officer, he's never seen voter turnout so low, even in Ward 1, which traditionally has had the highest turnout.

"Citywide, there are 56,709 registered voters. In Ward 1, there's currently 6,499 voters. As of 3:30 this afternoon, there were only a little over 600 votes cast."

And Bernier predicts that by the end of the day, voter turnout will have reached only 17 percent.

But he predicts a much higher participation in November's general election, due to some very strong races both nationally and statewide.

For NHPR News, I'm Debra Daigle in Manchester.