Despite hype, voter turnout low in MD

Despite all the buzz leading up to the election and early predictions that voter turnout would be similar to 2008. The end results show voter turnout was low compared to the past two presidential elections. 

This year only 60 percent of registered voters in Maryland turned up to cast their vote  compared to 67 percent in 2008, President Obama’s first election.  In Wicomico County the spread was similar 70 percent this year,  compared to 79 percent in ’08.  

Dr. Adam Hoffman political science professor at Salisbury University has a few theories why. One, that both candidates failed to enthuse voters and urge them to vote. The other, that neither candidate was appealing enough to draw certain voters to the polls.

“I think you had an election that had a tremendous amount of negative campaigning on both sides and a lot of research shows when you have voters bombarded with negative campaigning for months and months they get turned off by the whole electoral process,” Hoffman said.

It’s that theory that voters we spoke to on the street agreed with.

“It became something about voting for the better of two evils and people want to vote for candidates they like so I think a lot of people just didn’t turn up because they didn’t have anyone to vote for,” said Salisbury University student Megan Evans.

“They weren’t happy. People weren’t happy with the two options, that’s what I’m saying,” said Duane Doane. “So they just stayed home and didn’t vote.”

“I honestly think that’s what happened, I think people had in their minds thought that they didn’t like either candidates and to not vote,” said Trevante Dukes.

Dr. Hoffman said it’s the candidates responsibility it to ensure more voters turn up.