The heated debate over the school levy in Morgan County, West Virginia is driving a heavy voter turnout.
Just five days into the ten day early voting period, 920 citizens — 352 Democrats, 513 Republicans and 55 no party — have voted already.
That projects out to 1,800 people voting by the last day of early voting on May 9, 2014.
And if the early voting percentage mimics last year’s levy vote when 33 percent voted early, a record 5,400 people might vote by close of primary election day — May 13.
“The bigger the turnout, the more likely the levy will pass,” said pro-levy activist Larry Schultz.
Why is that?
“There is natural limit on the number of people who are willing to sell kids down the river for a few dollars,” Schultz said.
Schultz said that it would be remarkable if more than half the electorate — 6,000 out of about 12,000 registered voters — voted in a primary election.
Only 25 percent (3,000) of the electorate voted in last year’s levy election in Morgan County.
The levy lost last year by a vote of 56 percent (1,672) to 44 percent (1,323).
“I’ll begin to feel more and more comfortable as I hear those numbers,” Schultz said.