May 8, 2012
05/09/12 Voter turn-out in Marshall County was only at 22% for the May Primary Election. 742 citizens exercised their right to vote absentee with them using the Travel Board, mail and the election machines in the Court House. Election Board member Nelson Chipman said four years ago absentee voter turnout was 10% while this year it was only 3%.
With all 30 precincts reporting a total of 6,259 citizens voted with the majority of them being Republicans.
The only local race for either party was for Marshall County Coroner on the Republican ticket. Incumbent Bill Cleavenger beat his deputy coroner Les Trump 3,331 to 1,567. There were a couple of other contests including Precinct Committeeman in Center 2 between Randy Burkholder and Robert Manuwal. Manuwal won with 56% of the vote. There was a challenge for Precinct Committeeman in West 1 between Tim Pletcher and Donna Pontius with Pontius receiving 52% of the vote.
Looking at state races, Republicans had to decide between Francis Ellert and Timothy Harman for State Representative in District 17. In Marshall County Harman received 59% of the vote or 3,142 votes while Ellert received 2,110 votes.
On the federal level the US Representative in District 2 had two Democrats and 2 Republicans vying for the seat currently held by Joe Donnelly. Republican Jackie Walorski gathered over 70% of the Marshall County votes with Andrews getting nearly 30%. On the Democratic ticket, Dan Morrison took 60% of the vote with Brendan Mullen receiving 40%.
Long time US Senator Richard Lugar received 2,071 votes in Marshall County while his challenger, Richard Mourdock received 3,314 votes.