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Voter Turnout For General Election Even Lower Than Primary

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Baltimore's General Election. City residents are deciding on their leadership for the next four years. 

Political reporter Pat Warren has more on voter turnout.

The Democratic primary thins the herd in the Baltimore City mayor's race. Out of a field of five, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was the clear winner. Maybe too clear.  Early numbers indicate Baltimore City's General Election was dead on arrival.

"In my exercise class my instructor was asking, 'I said I had to leave here after a while and go vote.' She said 'Well, why you gonna go vote? We voted several months ago.' I said that was the preliminary and this is the general, and she said 'I didn't know anything about that,'" said Murial Lindsay-Hughes, voter.

WJZ spoke to Stephanie Rawlings-Blake about the low turnout.

"So many people like to complain," she said. "But then you ask them if they actually participate, and that's a different story."

Some voters who did cast ballots Tuesday were surprised to see how few of them, as in voters,  there were.

"They feel like everything's already set, the persons that are already in are going to be in, there's nothing they can do to about it. When we had the primary there was a little activity but nowhere near the activity we should have," said Dale Webb, voter.

But even low turnout is better than no turnout in the view of dedicated citizens, those who wouldn't think of missing a chance to have their voices heard, those who want to set an example for their children.

One voter said she is disappointed in the turnout in general.

"Because I feel this is the right of the American people, and it's a time to be able to express how we feel about things," she said. "And if you don't take advantage of it then you can't complain about it."

But some voters were also wondering why they didn't see more candidates at the polling places either.

"I think we have to pray for the best. The way that our country is now we need our candidates not just to have a job but to do their job," one voter said.

Elections officials predicted a turnout of 10-12 percent.

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