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Jun-11-98 01:27P ky alliance 502 7788130 P.05

Part 1

Comparison of Voter Turnout in Greene County, AL, 1992 - 1998

The population of Greene County is approximately 10,000. The voter registration is now being officially reported at about 7,000, although some people question that figure. In 1994, it was reportedly about 5,800.

The chart and graphs that follow in this paper show the changes in voter turnout from 1992 through the June 2 primary election this year. First primaries, run-offs, and general election figures are provided for four election years --- 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998.

The most revealing comparison are between the 1994 elections and the current year. This is because the same public offices were up for election in those years.

In the first primary in 1994, the turnout was 4,691. In the general election in November of that year, the turnout was even higher, 4,833.

In the first 1998 primary just held on June 2, the turnout was down to 3,928.

However, even more significant figures are the ones dealing with absentee votes. In the first primary in 1994, 1,118 voters, or about 25 percent of the voters cast their ballots absentee in the general eleciton that year, there were 1,463 absentee ballots, about one-third of the total.

This year on June 2, there were only 147 absentee ballots cast.

Absentee ballots are a major factor in many rural counteis, especially ones with high poverty levels. That is because distances to polling places are great, and more elderly people must vote by absentee. Any many people have to seek employment outside their home counties and therefore cannot go to the polls on election days.

Therefore, all candidates work hard to get absentee votes. They often decide elections.

But ti takes work and organization to get these votes. African American voter participation organizers have learned over the past three decades to do this well and have done it in an efficient and organized manner. Such activities are fully legal, as the law allows people to assist others in applying for absentee ballots and voting them, with the voters cooperation and permission.

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