WASHINGTON — Record participation in the Super Tuesday primaries has state election officials in Tennessee and Georgia bracing for massive voter turnout in November that some experts say could shatter all-time records.
“We’ve already started to prepare for that,” said Brook Thompson, Tennessee’s election coordinator. “We’ve been talking to our counties about the number of early voting sites we’re going to have and making sure they have enough of everything they need.”
In Hamilton County, election administrator Bud Knowles said his office is taking precautions to make sure Election Day goes smoothly, including ordering extra ballots and hiring additional poll workers.
Some minor glitches during the primary marred an otherwise flawless Feb. 5, when the county saw turnout of 40 percent, significantly higher than the 16 percent in the 2004 primary and 24 percent in 2000, he said.
“People are voting in numbers we haven’t seen in a long time,” Mr. Knowles said. “I’m shooting for 800 (poll) workers. For the primary, I had 721, and I figure another 80 to 90 would give an extra worker or two for each precinct.”
The increased voter interest has been flamed by a highly competitive Democratic race between two historic candidates, though enthusiasm is also high on the Republican side, which featured no incumbent or vice president running.
Many experts say turnout in the presidential election could far surpass 2004’s 61 percent, which was the highest since 1968.
“I think folks are excited about this upcoming election,” said Ben Fry, executive director of the Georgia Republican Party. “Fair and free elections are a priority, and I know (Secretary of State Karen Handel) is already laying the groundwork to make sure all the pieces are in place.”
Just in case problems do arise, Wade Munday, spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party, said the party will have a voter protection hotline to assist with any complaints on Election Day.
“We are always concerned about voting irregularities and continually monitor situations as they arise,” he said.
Doug Chapin, director of the Pew Center on the States’ electionline.org, which studies election administration, said many precincts throughout the country likely will find Election Day overwhelming. Many states have reported problems during the primaries with long lines at poll sites, insufficient manpower at precincts and not having enough ballots printed.
“States are going to want to err on the side of being optimistic as far as the level of turnout,” he said.
But amid all the predictions of massive turnout, at least one political expert says not to be surprised by lower participation.
“There’s nothing that correlates historically between primaries and the general election,” said Curtis Gans, director of American University’s Center for the Study of the American Electorate. “Anybody who says there’s going to be a record this fall doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Nobody will know until at least October.”
Mr. Gans said if Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., wins the Democratic nomination, turnout among blacks and young voters, many of whom support rival Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., may be lower.
On the other hand, if Sen. Obama wins the nomination, some people may sit out the election or vote Republican for either racial reasons or because Mr. Obama is more liberal, he said.
Sens. Clinton and Obama are in a tight — and often polarizing — race for the Democratic nod, while Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has clinched the Republican nomination.
Margaret Franklin, president of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College Democrats, said she fears a drawn-out Democratic primary could alienate young voters, many of whom have been energized this election season.
“But,” she said, “I still believe that we have the best candidates in this cycle.”
