Sure the race for the presidential primary was only a "beauty contest" and there were no binding delegates distributed as a result of the final tally yesterday. Sure some people stayed home protesting the decision by the state to "waste" millions of dollars on an election that "didn't matter." All in all, however, it was a dreadful day for democracy in the Show Me State as voter turnout was a mere 7.98%. It is even more paltry when you learn that voter turnout was expected to be around 23%. Ouch!
Southwest Missouri had the highest average rate of voter turnout in the state. Fueled by the 911 tax debate, Barry county had the highest rate in the state at 24.13%, followed by Cole county 17.85%, and Christian county at 14.83%. The lowest rate of voter turnout came in New Madrid county where only 3.27% of the registered voters in that area bothered to show up to the polls.
Regardless of who won or lost on the basis of what happened yesterday, the national media isn't focusing on the turnout rate. They are focusing on who won. And when only eight percent of the registered voters in your state can drive the conversation, there was a bigger loser in the state yesterday than Romney -- it was democracy.
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