L’Observateur / October 27, 1999

The Oct. 23 primary election held its measure of surprises,disappointments and ironies, but now is the time to move on. Wecongratulate those who won their sought-after positions and await the outcome of the runoff elections set Nov. 20.One of the biggest disappointments of the day was the voter turnout, considering the importance of the election. We can only hope for, andsuggest strongly, a greater turnout for the runoff.

Of St. Charles Parish’s 30,360 voters, most turned out for the governor’srace, according to unofficial returns, as 17,618 cast votes for governor (58 percent), and 17,148 for parish president (56 percent).

Likewise, of St. James Parish’s 14,700 voters, more turned out for theparish president’s race, where 10,010 votes were cast (68 percent), compared to 9,984 for governor (67 percent).

However, in St. John the Baptist Parish, of the 26,109 voters eligible,14,974 cast votes for parish president (57 percent), and 14,718 voted for governor (56 percent).

Where voter turnout was higher in St. James Parish, more in St. JohnParish felt the need to vote for parish president.

Yet, more voters should come out and make their voices known. Saturdaywas near-perfect weather and there was little to prevent a voter from taking a few minutes out of a 14-hour poll time (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) to casttheir vote.

Admittedly, new voter machines also had their impact on voter confusion in places, and some voters may have simply been unable to complete their balloting.

However, we encourage people to register to vote and then follow through by voting in the Nov. 20 general election. Otherwise, one shouldn’tcomplain about the results.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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