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Story Archives: Record turnout expected


Record turnout expected
by Michael DeVault - posted Thursday, October 30th, 2008 @ 5:11 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
At least one Ouachita Parish voter waited more than 30 minutes to cast an early vote in the 2008 presidential election yesterday, according to Ouachita Registrar of Voters Christa Medaries.

All told, almost 13 percent of eligible parish voters availed themselves the opportunity to vote early, a major indicator that the Nov. 4 turnout will be high.

"It's the biggest turnout I've ever seen," said Medaries. "Last year for the governor's race, we had six percent."

Some 100,925 voters in Ouachita are registered and eligible for the general election.

Of that total, 12,355 individuals opted for the early ballot.

Medaries said the 2004 presidential election saw Ouachita voter turnout top 65 percent.

"I'm sure it will be higher," Medaries said. "I would think it will be more this time."

Previously, Medaries had projected a high turnout as voters took a greater interest in the historical nature of the 2008 presidential race.

For the first time in history, a black man heads a major party ticket. On the Republican side, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska is the vice presidential nominee.

Either way the race goes, voters are aware history will be made, Medaries said.

An analysis of parish-wide early voting trends Wednesday indicated widespread interest in the contest, crossing racial and political boundaries.

More than 6,400 Democrats voted early, while 4,175 Republicans cast early ballots.

Whites outnumbered blacks in early voting with 7,387 voters identified as Caucasian and 4,665 voters identified as black. Women outnumbered men by more than 2,100 votes.

That trend continued statewide, where some 150,000 women cast early votes, besting their male counterparts by more than 40,000.

Also, the Ouachita Parish racial makeup played out on the state level as well.

Whites outnumbered blacks with just over 162,000 white voters turning out for early voting. A little more than 96,000 blacks voted early.

While only 76,000 Democrats voted early statewide, more than 152,000 Republicans showed up.

Independents cast almost 35,000 votes.
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