Skipping vote in presidential election drives woman to polls for primary

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Samantha Lowman could have voted in the last presidential election, but she didn’t.

And she regrets that decision to this day, she said.

That’s why the 26-year-old vowed never to miss the opportunity to vote again, she added.

On Tuesday, she was among the small percentage of people who voted in Seymour’s municipal election.

It also was her first time voting, she said.

Using the electronic voting machine at Calvary Baptist Church, she made her selections, which weren’t many because there were only a few contested city council races on the ballot.

“I know it’s a small election, but it still matters,” she said. “Now, if they get elected, and I don’t like what they do, then I have the right to complain.”

Karen Brooks said she uses her vote to get her point across, and she never misses an election.

“I always vote, because I want people to hear my voice,” she said.

But even she was surprised by the lack of people running for office this time around and the low voter turnout. Democrats had no contested races and fielded few candidates for this election.

“It’s a sad state of affairs,” Brooks said. “When I pulled up, I wondered if I was in the right place or if they had moved the polling site.”

That’s because there was no candidates greeting voters with a handshake or campaign workers handing out fingernail files, key chains, stickers pencils or other items with their candidate’s name on it.

And there was only one election sign for incumbent Democratic Councilman John Reinhart decorating the church’s lawn.

“I can’t imagine why people aren’t more involved in our local government and our community,” Brooks said. “They should at least be coming out to show their support to candidates. I know several of the people running, both Republicans and Democrats.”

She’s looking forward to more activity in the general election this fall.

“I think there will be more interest then,” she said. “Hopefully more candidates and more voters.”

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