Despite sunny skies and 70-degree weather, many voters declined to vote in the Pennsylvania primary on April 23.

Voter turnout was low in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and throughout the state. Election observers expected final figures to show a super-low turnout. Philadelphia voter turnout was 19%. There are indications that 70% or more of voters in the region and across the state decided not to vote in the primary.

The question is whether the low turnout is attributable to the multitude of uncontested races, or the lack of voter enthusiasm.

The lack of ad buys for this primary is also blamed for the low turnout this year. Neither presidential nor senatorial candidates faced primary challengers on either side of the ballot.

Given that the nominees were already essentially chosen for president, it is not too surprising that turnout was not high.

However, a lower turnout than normal should be of concern, especially for Democratic Party officials who need a large turnout in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to win Pennsylvania for President Joe Biden in the general election in November.

Some of the low turnout at polling places Tuesday can be attributed to mail-in voting. Poll workers who spoke to the Tribune said that more residents opted to mail in their ballots instead of casting their ballots in person.

In an interview with the Tribune on Election Day, Tabitha Hill, a judge of elections for the 48th Ward, 11th Division, said that the mail-in voting encouraged during the pandemic has now become routine for many voters.

 

“In recent elections, now that so many people are doing mail-in, it’s slowed down on the actual day of election,” Hill said while waiting for voters at Audenried High School.

“We’re just baffled by the turnout,” said Michael Rhoden, judge of elections for the 60th Ward, 7th Division.

As the Tribune reported Tuesday, some party officials have expressed concerns about voter enthusiasm among young voters who are angry about the war in Gaza.

In addition to low voter turnout, Democratic Party officials should be concerned that there was an increase of write-in votes cast against Biden to protest his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Most political observers see a large Democratic turnout in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as key to Biden winning Pennsylvania and the presidency. The challenge from now until November is for Democrats to engage, register and motivate their base, especially Black and young voters, to turn out in November.

Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune