Spring election sees voters go to polls in huge numbers
Photo 
Lori Stottler
JANESVILLE — Voters flooded the polls Tuesday, roughly doubling the turnout for a typical spring election.
Forty-two percent of registered voters went to the polls in Rock County, compared to a 14.5 percent in spring 2010.
Thirty-seven percent of registered voters turned out in Walworth County, compared to 20 percent in spring 2010.
The state Government Accountability Board predicted a 20 percent turnout statewide.
Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler said she expected high turnout because of a strong interest in municipal, school board and state races. She said nice weather also helped.
Stottler said lots of extra ballots were printed midday Tuesday because of anticipated shortages.
The city of Milton still ran short and had to hand count a few ballots, but that didn’t delay returns by too much time and the city didn’t have any close races, she said.
“This is over double what we would typically see in a spring election,” Stottler said. “I’m just glad it went smooth and problem-free.”
Walworth County Clerk Kim Bushey said she also expected high turnout because of interest in local and state races. She said residents are active in politics right now.
She said Walworth County printed more ballots when precincts requested them. She said the day went well.
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By GAZETTE STAFF 06/24/11
Apr 7, 2011 at 5:59 p.m.
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For all the upheaval in this state over election results from the fall, I would have thought the turn out would have been even higher. Its sad really...
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:25 a.m.
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Many other countries have over 90% turnout in their elections. This means that near 60% of the electorate do not bother to participate. Maybe this is best if they are ill-informed but it sure doesn't do anything for our representative democracy. I hope those who are over-throwing African and Arabic governments don't get wind of this because they might end up sitting home on their "hands." Good government is a "terrible thing to waste."
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