Voters Cast Ballot Despite Low Primary Election Turnout
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Riverside County Registrar expects 30-40 percent of voters cast their ballot in this primary election. Video by kmir6.com
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PALM DESERT- Voters across the Coachella Valley headed to the polls to decide a number of key races in this primary election.
"The primary election is probably just as important as a general election, because that sets the stage for what your true options are," said Sheldon Brodski who voted in Rancho Mirage.
Among the more than 800,000 registered voters in Riverside County, about 30-40 percent cast their ballot in this election, according to the Registrar of Voters.
"If you don't vote you don't have a say so. I want to have a say so," said Debra Halbert of Palm Desert.
Voters may have even more of a say so this primary. Unlike primaries in the past where voters choose candidates from their own party, voters are now choosing any candidate they want. The top two candidates move on to the general election in November. But these new rules don't apply to presidential candidates.
"We hope our vote makes a difference and counts for the right person we are voting for," said Margo Vogl.
Voters who aren't registered with a political party can now vote in the Democratic presidential primary. Voters wanting to vote for a Republican presidential candidate must be registered Republican.
Riverside county voters are also deciding whether to keep four Riverside County Superior Court judges.
But voter after voter said it wasn't so much the candidates on the ballot that brought them out, it was their civic responsibility.
"Everybody should vote, in fact its a disgrace the low percentage of people who vote in this country," said Brodski.
Jessica Flores, KMIR6 News.
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