Voters Cast Ballots for Atlanta Races, Notice Low Turnout

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Voting is underway for Atlanta's municipal election, and turnout is not expected to be nearly what it was the last time the polls were open. WABE's Odette Yousef caught some voters as they were leaving the precinct at the All Saints Episcopal Church in midtown, to ask them what was on their minds as they cast their ballots.

Poll workers estimated that by 2pm, about 500 people had voted in a precinct where 5000 are registered. One of them was Iyanna Holmes:

HOLMES: The issues that are important to me right now would probably be the economy, and employment -- the job situation in Atlanta, and Atlanta's budget problems that it's been having, so

Holmes, who voted for Kasim Reed in the mayoral race, recalls much longer lines during last year's presidential election.

HOLMES: You kind of wish that enthusiasm that was so contagious at that time stuck around, and it doesn't seem like it has.

Atlanta has 258 thousand registered voters about 90 thousand are projected to cast ballots in this year's election.

R.M. Lathan, a consultant and event producer, noticed the muted atmosphere around this year's race, too:

LATHAN: This campaign season as well - I've been here 21 years - seemed a little different as far as the less-than-enthusiastic intensity with respect to the mayoral race, not like the Maynard Jackson years, not like Shirley Franklin's years, not like other candidates prior to Campbell.

Lathan chose not to say whom he voted for. He has his own theory about why he saw so few at the polls:

LATHAN: Without doubt the economy is kind of distracting people versus being able to really invest their attention into the races and/or issues.

Voting locations will be open until 8pm.

Odette Yousef, WABE, News.