Bowie Voter Turnout Down Over Previous Years

Though voter turnout for the 2013 municipal elections was up slightly over 2011, turnout was down significantly over previous years, according to numbers obtained from the Bowie City government. 

This year, turnout was at 11.96 percent, up slightly over 2011 when 11.39 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the municipal election. In 2009, 13.94 percent of voters showed up to the polls; and in 2007 a whopping 21.68 percent voted in the city elections. 

The numbers could vary for a variety of reasons, said City manger David Deutsch. 

"There may have been more contested races," Deutsch said in reference to the large turnout in 2007. "I think that makes a significant difference." 

However, Deutsch said voter turnout numbers aren't really all that accurate because the county doesn't regularly purge voters who have been removed from the rolls because they've moved or for other reasons. 

"The denominator in that equation clearly in my mind is wrong," Deutsch said. "How many of them should have been purged?"

Certain people turnout to the polls every election cycle because they are civic minded, but others only come out for specific issues, Deutsch said. 

Do you vote regularly in municipal elections, or are you more likely to vote if there is a ballot question or a contested race? Tell Patch in the comments.