Casting your vote: Local turnout low for Tuesday election

Hattie McDowell places ballot on vote counting machine during Tuesday's election. McDowell voted at Trinity Gospel Church. (Photo by Bob Greenlee, Staff)

Obama, Santorum are top candidates locally

news@standard-democrat.com

BENTON -- Voters in Scott and Mississippi counties were in line with the statewide trend of overwhelmingly selecting incumbent President Barack Obama for the Democrat's candidate and Rick Santorum to face him as the Republican candidate.

New Madrid County voters also picked Obama by a wide margin along with Santorum but with less of a lead over Mitt Romney than other local counties.

The only Libertarian on the ballot, James Orland Ogle III, was in a dead heat with uncommitted voters for that party statewide.

In Scott County, which has almost 26,000 registered voters, "only 1,305 people voted," according to County Clerk Rita Milam.

She described the voter turnout as "very, very low."

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