Slow turnout at start of NC primary runoffs

RALEIGH (AP)—Six weeks after North Carolina voters turned out in record numbers, Tuesday’s runoff primary may set a mark for the lowest turnout ever.

“It might be the election officials who are the largest bloc of voters,“ State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett said in a telephone interview.

“Currently, it’s been extremely slow,“ Bartlett said during the morning. “We hope eligible voters make it to the polls.“

Those registered voters who bothered to venture out will choose a Democratic challenger to Republican Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry. It was the only statewide race to be decided.

Mary Fant Donnan finished first in the four-person party primary May 6 but failed to get the more than 40 percent of the vote required to avoid a runoff with John Brooks.

The winner takes on Berry in November.

Bartlett said turnout this time would be in stark contrast to the May 6 primary, which was bolstered by the Democratic presidential showdown between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. This time, Bartlett said turnout may fall below the 2.5 percent who cast ballots in the 2000 GOP runoff between Berry and John Miller.

“Currently, mail and one-stop voting have 10,000 participating. We might see a record today,“ he said.

There also are local races on the ballots and two legislative runoffs.

In the 5th Senate District, Don Davis and Kathy Taft will compete for the Democratic nomination.

Rep. Ken Furr and Justin Burr will participate in the GOP runoff for the 67th District.

Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and were due to close at 7:30 p.m.