Weather impacts voter turnout

GREEN BAY - The snowy weather Tuesday put a damper on the first Election Day of the year.

The wintry mess created an even lower voter turnout than expected when it comes to the spring primary.

It was a pretty slow Election Day for poll workers in Green Bay.

"We always have snacks and we usually fill it a couple times, refill it a couple times and this time, no, we're still on the first bag of jelly beans," explained Chief Inspector Meribeth Roeser.

Some voters braved the elements.

"Rain or shine, wind or snow," said voter Christel Danielson.

"Every election, wouldn't miss it," explained Donna Showers of Green Bay.

The majority of eligible voters, however, didn't have the same mentality.   

• Click here to view the February primary election results

As of late afternoon, the Green Bay City Clerk reported only a 1 percent voter turnout.

"I know the weather had a lot to do with it. It was very, very difficult getting in this morning," Roeser explained.

Polling officials also blame the lack of local elections on the small numbers. The only statewide race on the ballot was for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.

Other communities reported small numbers during the day as well.

Originally Appleton forecasted a 15 percent voter turnout. However, due to the weather, projections went down to 9 percent.

Both De Pere and Ashwaubenon reported a 4 percent turnout by late afternoon.

Once the roads cleared, poll workers say more people did start to trickle in.

The state's Government Accountability Board predicted less than a 10 percent voter turn out statewide.