Voter Turnout Up 51 Percent Over 2011

Woonsocket's city primary had 2,382 votes cast at 3 p.m., a 51 percent jump over 2011's count by the same point in the day.

At 10 a.m., Board of Canvassers Manager Estelle Corriveau had a count of 855 voters with poll workers reporting a slow morning for the primary, but that was changing by late afternoon.

"I think I'm doing well at the polls," said City Council challenger Richard Fagnant outside Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church. He's likely to make it on the November ballot regardless, following the withdrawal of Jeffrey Belknap's candidacy. Voters will also decide among four candidates for mayor they'd like to see on the ballot this year: Mayor Leo Fontaine, challenger Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt (D-Dist. 49), challenger Dave Fisher or Michael Moniz.

As for the turnout, though, Fagnant said. "It's slow. Very slow."

Inside OLQM, poll worker Yvette Ayotte confirmed a tepid turnout at 171 by about noontime. "Where is everybody?" asked Charles Desaulniers of a room peopled primarily by poll workers. 

By 12:30, Woonsocket High School had seen 215 voters, and Leo Savoie School had seen 294. 

At Crepeau Court, poll worker Helen Menoshe said voting was, "Kinda steady," at 146 voters by 1 p.m. Still, "It's doubled," since this time during the last primary, said Lorraine Lanctot, "We're happy to see that."

At Bernon Heights School, where campaign volunteers for mayoral challenger Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt (D-Dist. 49) and incumbent Mayor Leo Fontaine staked out separate portions of the parking lot, the count was 222 by 1:30 p.m., with a report of steady turnout.

At the Providence Street Fire Station, the voter count was 155 by about 2 p.m. "It's slow," said Aline Aubin. 

But that was changing by late afternoon, according to the Board of Canvassers. By 3 p.m., the 2,382 voter tally represented 9.34 percent of the electorate. During the last city primary in 2011, the count was just 1,073, or only 4.64 percent of the electorate.