VOTER TURNOUT SLUMPS TO 32 YEAR LOW

(05/20/2006)
The West Virginia primary election voter turnout was the lowest in 32 years.

While it was an off-year election and few high-profile races, plus the switch to computer voting in 34 counties, the turn-out was dismal.

Secretary of State Betty Ireland said only 25% of the registered voters bothered to cast their ballots.

That is only 292-thousand-334 people, compared to the one-point-13 million registered voters.

Wyoming County had the highest voter turnout with 46 percent.

Well-populated Berkeley County had the lowest turnout, with only 14 percent.