Pattern of DropUp in Democratic Statewide Primary

Richard Korn won the Democratic Primary for Auditor on September 14, 2010. One of the realities from Tuesday's results is voter drop off for this race. 34,721 Delaware Democrats voted in the Treasurer's race and only 32,736 voted in the Auditor's race. 1,985 Democrats ( about 5% of those who entered the voting booth) passed up the opportunity to vote in the Auditor's race.


There were 7 state representative primaries and one state senate primary, but in many parts of the State in New Castle County and Sussex County the only races on the ballot were State Treasurer, Auditor of Accounts and a countywide row office. In Kent County there were no countywide or local races.

In Sussex and New Castle Counties hundreds apparently voted for Treasurer, skipped the Auditor's race and then voted in the local row ofice. What would concern me if I was the Democratic candidate in this race is that the highest portion of voters in actual numbers and percentage of voters skipping this race was in New Castle County which is the most populus of the three counties and the most Democratic. While 1,523 fewer voters took part in the Auditor's race than the Treasurer's race in New Castle County, the difference in turnout in the Sheriff's race is only 36 votes fewer. While 240 fewer Sussex County voters took part in the Auditor's race than the Treasurer's race, the difference in the Recorder of Deeds from the Treasurer's is only 35 fewer voters.

in 2006 Michael Dalto lost to Tom Wagner by 18,000 votes and the dropoff between the treasurer's race and Auditor's race was 2,326.Since over 26,000 more Democrats than Republicans voted in 2006, it is entirely possible there is a higher proportion of the dropoff since Democrats make up more of the voting pool.

We know for sure that the 1,985 voters who did not vote in Tuesday's primary for Auditor were all Democrats who had taken the time to go vote.

Getting 2,000 people to not dropoff will not be THE deciding factor unless the winning margin is razor thin, but if the general election is even somewhat close convincing the primary voters to vote again in November and complete the ballot could make an impact on the outcome.


Statewide Results
Treasurer
Flowers---------18,841
Jones-Potter----15,880
Total------------34,721
Auditor
Korn------------17,639
Matluskey-------15,097
Total-----------32,736






New Castle County
Treasurer
Flowers---------12,300
Jones-Potter----11,468
Total------------23,768

Auditor
Korn------------12,339
Matluskey-------9,906
Total------------22,245
1523 voters dropped of from Treasurer to Auditor (6% dropoff)

Sheriff
Navarro--------15,032
Walsh------------8710
Total------------23,742

Sussex County
Treasurer
Flowers--------4,089
Jones-Potter---2,583
Total-----------6,672

Auditor
Korn-----------3,201
Matluskey----3,231
Total-----------6,432
240 voters dropped off from Treasurer to Auditor (3% dropoff)

Recorder of Deeds
Brady--- ------3785
Roach---------2852
Total-----------6637

Kent

Treasurer
Flowers---------2,452
Jones-Potter----1,829
Total------------4,281
Auditor
Korn------------2,099
Matluskey-------1,960
Total-----------4,059
222 voters dropped off from Treasurer to Auditor (5%)


http://elections.delaware.gov/reports/agprpt_2006.html

http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect06/elect06_general/html/elect06_general_office.shtml


http://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/unofresl.shtml