Voter turnout was much lower than expected for Tuesday’s Primary Election in Pettis County.
Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada had predicted between 30 and 34 percent of registered voters in the county would cast a ballot Tuesday in a primary that saw many hotly contested races across both the county and the state. However, only 6,877 Pettis County voters made it to the polls, or 24.03 percent of registered voters.
“The two weeks before the election we were having our absentee voting, it was a very good turnout,” La Strada said. “With today, we had that flood, then the extremely hot weather, that could have a little play into this. I just don’t know. Things were steady throughout the day. We predicted 30 to 34 percent turnout, ended being a little over 24 percent turnout. Statistically, it was not as large of a turnout as in 2014.”
La Strada wasn’t alone in his prediction, as the statewide prediction from Secretary of State Jason Kander was 31 percent.
All Pettis County precincts were reported in 57 minutes once polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, keeping with La Strada’s record of quick election returns. La Strada said things went smoothly Tuesday, although the Houstonia polling location was moved at the last minute due to the original location being flooded from Monday’s heavy rains.
“We’re going to keep moving forward, stay focused on November. I just can’t put my finger on what that prediction will be quite yet,” La Strada said. “… Maybe people are just really engaged in the presidential election, and I think that’s what it is. We had a 40 percent turnout in the presidential primary.”



