Voter turnout was big loser of election night

Despite the largest number ever of voters registering to vote in Deschutes County and a record number of party switches before the primary, the voter turnout on the High Desert was anything but record-breaking.

“It was surprising to me,” Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship said Wednesdasy.

Statewide, 47 percent of voters returned their ballots. In Jefferson County, the figure was 47 percent; in Crook County, 58 percent; and Deschutes County 50 percent.

“I am kind of surprised that there wasn’t a higher voter turnout,” said Bend resident John Bushnell.

Blankenship said they had an unprecedented amount of traffic in the months leading up to the primary.

“There were so many people that were passionate about participating,” Blankenship said.

Some say the low voter turnout is due to the choices of presidential candidates this year.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Bend resident Darla Fournier.

“People are pretty dissatisfied with their government right now,” Buschnell said. “I think that’s why people are voting for Trump or Sanders.”

Bernie Sanders won in all but one Oregon county. The margin of his win was significantly closer in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties. In Jefferson County, he won by just 68 votes.

Trump is the only remaining Republican candidate running for president, but Ted Cruz and John Kasich still pulled in 17 and 16 percent of the vote, respectively.

“It doesn’t seem like we have the choices of who we really want,” said Bend resident Brian Chinelli.

One clear winner of the night was the 911 funding measure in Deschutes County, which passed with 72 percent of the vote.

“We’re really happy it passed,” said Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe. “When I started, we were the dispatchers. There was no 911.”

The levy is a permanent tax rate, replacing the old levy, which had to be approved by voters every fve years.

Howe said agencies dependent on the dispatch center can now breathe a sigh of relief.