Election Day? Ho-hum

Statewide, voter turnout in unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State clocked in at 39.55 percent. This is significantly lower than previous gubernatorial mid-term election cycles. In 2010, 49 percent of Ohioans voted and in 2006, 53 percent did.

In Athens County, the figure is closer to recent trends, with 35 percent of registered voters casting ballots in 2010.

Though Ohio University students are still in class, unlike during the May primary election, turnout was low in precincts comprised primarily of student voters.

For instance, in Athens Ward 2, precinct 1, which contains much of South and East greens, where one person cast a ballot in May, only eight voters of 922 cast ballots this election, for a turnout of 0.87 percent.

That was the precinct with the lowest voter turnout, followed by Athens 2-5 at 1.6 percent, with 16 of 1,002 registered voters casting ballots. That precinct encompasses the back South Green area and some of the River Park/River's Edge student housing area.

All other single-digit percentage turnout precincts fell within the city of Athens, including 1-4, on Ohio University's West Green, at 1.91 percent, or 27 ballots cast of 1,412 registered voters; Athens 3-1, in uptown Athens, with 2.5 percent, or 17 ballots cast out of 680 registered voters; and Athens 4-5, on East Green, with 2.08 percent turnout, or 28 out of 1,348 voters casting ballots.

Part of the reason for low turnout in student precincts is that many students who are registered move away after one or two years.

The highest turnout in Athens County also occurred with in the city of Athens, in ward 3 precinct 6, with 57.97 percent turnout, or 291 voters out of 502. That precinct covers Athens' northeast side near East State Street and Madison Avenue.

Turnout throughout Athens County generally hovered between 28 percent and 54 percent at the lowest and highest ends, with most precincts reporting turnout somewhere in the 30^th or 40^th percentiles.

The highest number of voters by number came in Lee Township, with 682 voters casting ballots out of 1,340 registered, for a turnout of 50.9 percent.

Statewide, the highest turnout of any county was in Monroe, with 54.16 percent of registered voters casting ballots, while the lowest turnout was Lawrence County with 30.57 percent of registered voters participating.

OpenSecrets.org has put the grand total price tag of this election cycle nationwide at $3.67 billion, just slightly more than the 2010 cycle, which cost $3.63 billion. The 2006 election cost $2.85 billion.