Voter turnout varied throughout Northern Virginia for Tuesday’s primary elections, but overall it was far higher than the statewide average.
Officials projected about 5 percent of the state’s registered voters would make an appearance at the polls, but some 3 percent showed, according to preliminary data Tuesday night.
In Fairfax’s 225 precincts, election officials saw a turnout higher than the 5 percent they projected, with some precincts hitting 7 percent by 6 p.m., said Jackie Harris, general registrar.
While some Arlington precincts, such as Ashton Heights, had turnouts closer to 12 percent, Arlington general registrar Linda Lindberg said the county averaged around 10 percent. “Arlington tends to have a very politically active community,” she said.
Alexandria General Registrar Tom Parkins said he thought about 5,000 Democrats and some 2,000 Republicans would show, but “I suspect those may be a bit on the high side in terms of estimates,” he said.
“Primary elections are really an exercise for party activists. Most people, even if they choose the label of Democrat or Republican, are no activists,” Parkins said. “In spite of the negative campaigning, the [candidates’] profile[s] didn’t rise to the level of bringing many voters.”
The 1996 Republican primary drew 17 percent of the voters because it involved John Warner, a prominent senator.
Shortly before noon, Prince William County General Registrar Betty Weimer said: “We would have been tickled to get 20 percent. It is less than 1 percent right now.”
The county finished just above 2 percent.
