Mid-term election draws lower numbers to polls

NEW MADRID - With no countywide races on the ballot, voter turnout was even lower than County Clerk Clement Cravens had originally projected. Only 4,752 ballots were cast Tuesday with more than 13,000 registered voters in New Madrid County.

According to Cravens in the 2006 mid-term election 6,000 ballots were cast by county voters. He had anticipated a turnout of around 5,000.

While some precincts were low, in other precincts voters were apparently drawn to those races at the top of the ballot. Those precincts saw a higher than normal turnout, Cravens said.

One of the races drawing interest from voters was for the 161st district representative spot. According to unofficial totals provided by Cravens' office, incumbent Steve Hodges was the choice of those New Madrid County residents in his district. Hodges, a Democrat, polled 1,369 votes, defeating Republican challenger Ron McCormick., who had 1,002 votes in the county.

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