Cecil County Votes: Over 23 percent turnout at 3 pm
Voters in Cecil County turned out at a steady pace Tuesday to decide three County Commissioner contests, Sheriff, State’s Attorney and other local offices, as well as State Senate and Delegate races. Also at stake is the hotly contested 1st District Congress race between incumbent Frank Kratovil (D) and Andy Harris (R).
By 3 p.m., Cecil County turnout was 23.4 percent of all eligible voters, according to local election board officials. Turnout among Republicans, 27.7 percent of those eligible, was higher than for Democrats, with 23.4 percent. Turnout among other eligible voter groups was 15.2 percent.
The stronger showing among Republicans could compensate for their lower registration figures in Cecil County. Overall, there were 59,837 eligible voters in the county, with 24,530 Democrats and 22,853 Republicans. Unaffiliated voters numbered 11,218 while 208 voters registered as Libertarians, 143 Green Party members, 25 Constitution Party members and 860 listed as “other.”
Reports from precincts around the county showed lines at many polling places throughout the day.
In late afternoon, elections board officials were getting ready to count the tallies from early voting but results would not be released until after polls closed at 8 p.m. State elections officials report that there were 3,389 early ballots cast in Cecil County, or 5.66 percent of eligible voters.
Early voting was higher among county Republicans, who cast 1,561 ballots while Democrats cast 1,403.
Voters will also select three members of the elected School Board, which is considered a nonpartisan race. Voters are also choosing three judges for the Orphan’s Court, which is considered a nonpartisan contest.
Circuit Court Judge V. Michael Whelan was the top vote getter in both the Democratic and Republican primaries and as such appears unopposed on the general election ballot in a nonpartisan listing.
Also on the ballot is a referendum question on whether to change the form of governance in Cecil County, from the current five-member Board of Commissioners to a charter form of government, with a county executive and a five-member County Council. A “Yes” vote would support the change to charter while a “No” vote would keep the current system.
Cecil Times will be posting frequently updated reports throughout the night on key contests, including 1st District Congress, County Commissioners, Sheriff, State Senate, House of Delegates races, as well as the Charter government issue.
