Sedgwick County election turnout low, less than 13 percent

A prediction that only 14 percent of registered voters in Sedgwick County would show up at the polls Tuesday turned out to be slightly optimistic.

A mere 12.7 percent cast ballots that decided races for mayor and several city council and school board seats.

“Really no big surprise,” said Bill Gale, county election commissioner, who made the prediction.

It was the lowest turnout of the decade for a spring general election that featured a race for mayor. The only lower turnouts came in 2009 (9.2 percent) and 2001 (12 percent), when the mayor’s job wasn’t on the line.

It followed a March primary election that drew a meager 7.8 percent of registered voters.

Only 32,995 of 259,532 registered voters cast ballots Tuesday. At one voting location, the turnout was so low a volunteer snored as he napped.

Voters who did turn out blamed the lack of company at the polls on apathy, and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

“Some people are apathetic because they feel they’re not making any difference,” said Larry Paxson, who voted at Linwood Recreation Center, 1901 S. Kansas. He votes in every election. “Others, as long as they can maintain their status quo, I don’t think they’re really concerned.”

Paxson said he came out to vote for change because he’s not happy the way things are. That included voting against incumbent Mayor Carl Brewer.

“I think we need to change everything from the grassroots up,” Paxson said. “We need to rotate the people in there to get fresh thinking.”

“Seems like people are more involved in national politics,” said Velda Kuhns after voting at Westwood Presbyterian Church, 8007 W. Maple. “They don’t realize it starts where they live. It’s where they can get involved. You can’t always do anything about national politics.”

Some of those who voted experienced glitches.

About 50 people were turned away from Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central, because they were in the wrong precinct, said Howard Moore, supervising judge. The church had been used for advance voting and apparently some people didn’t realize they couldn’t also vote there on Election Day if they didn’t live in that precinct.

Polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., but not everyone realized what time they were supposed to open. Poll workers at the Machinists Union building in south Wichita hadn’t opened the polls at 6 a.m., and three voters who arrived were told they couldn’t vote until 7 a.m., Gale said.

The polls were open by 6:30 a.m., he said, but by then the voters had left.

The local politicians on Tuesday’s ballot weren’t always well known by those who went to the polls. George Anderson, who voted at Sharon Baptist Church, 2221 S. Oliver, and always votes in general elections, admitted he didn’t know much about all of the candidates on the ballot.

Anderson said he voted for Mark Gietzen for the District 3 council seat, but he wasn’t sure why.

“That’s horrible to say, but it’s the truth,” he said.

Steven Gisick, a 21-year-old Burger King employee, voted for Michael O’Donnell over Joshua Blick in the District 4 race.

“I think he’s the Democrat, isn’t he?” Gisick said. Actually, both candidates are Republicans, although a Blick campaign mailer claimed he was the only Republican in the race. Municipal elections are nonpartisan.

Those who voted said they earned the right to complain if things don’t go well in the city.

“Everyone has an opinion, but it doesn’t count unless they vote,” said Jeff Bannon, who voted with wife Melinda at Westlink Church of Christ.

“If you need to complain, then you need to vote,” Melinda Bannon said.

Contributing: Brent Wistrom, Stan Finger, Rick Plumlee and Dion Lefler of The Eagle

This story was originally published April 5, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Sedgwick County election turnout low, less than 13 percent."