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Hernando Today

Hernando Shows Up, But Falls Short Of Record

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By TONY MARRERO and KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: November 5, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando showed up in force to take part in history.

The county saw a nearly 72 percent turnout rate for the general election, or 88,413 of 123,013 registered voters. Perhaps surprisingly, though, that isn't a record, said Elections Supervisor Annie Williams.

During the 2004 general election, 73 percent of the county's registered voters showed up, Williams said.

Still, many people who never voted before are hyped up and participating in the electoral process, she said.

"It was a good thing to see," said Williams, who fended off two challengers in her own bid to keep her seat.

At Northcliffe Baptist Church, they were lined up into the parking lot 45 minutes before polls opened at 7 a.m., said elections office spokeswoman Elizabeth Townsend.

There also were long lines at Grace Presbyterian Church on Spring Hill Drive.

There were a few glitches.

Ballot workers in Brooksville's Precinct 5 handed out the incorrect ballots for about a half an hour after polls opened at 7 a.m., Townsend said.

The precinct is attended by voters who live in the city limits and some who don't. At least some voters who should have received ballots with the two city council races on them did not, Townsend said.

A total of about 50 voters had passed through the precinct before the mistake was caught, but it's unclear how many received the wrong ballot, Townsend said. Some who did were given the chance to vote again.

A similar error happened at Precinct 29, the Moose Lodge in Spring Hill. Two voters did not receive the ballot with the Spring Hill Fire Rescue board race and referendum question, Townsend said.

One of the voters was already contacted and offered the chance to cast another vote. The voter declined, Townsend said. The other voter hadn't been reached late Tuesday, she said.

Reports that some ballots at another city precinct left off the name of elections supervisor candidate Gus Guadagnino were unfounded, Townsend said.

Williams, who had to answer for several errors leading up to Tuesday's election, continued to stress that no election is perfect and that includes Hernando County.

But, she added, "We always take care of our voters."

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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