Tri-Town voters came out for the presidential primary election on March 1 like they haven’t in a long time. Decades, even, according to Rochester Town Clerk Naida Parker.
Fifty-percent of Marion voters – 1,874 of the 3,763 registered voters – made their way to the VFW to cast their vote for their preferred candidate.
“It was pretty steady all day,” said Marion Town Election Warden Joan Hartnett-Barry. “People came out during lunch, during suppertime … anytime.”
Republican candidate Donald Trump was the victor in Marion with 358 votes, with John Kasich coming in second with 183 votes and Marco Rubio in third with 148.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders in Marion by a narrow margin, 530-510.
In Mattapoisett, roughly 50 percent of registered voters filed into Old Hammondtown Elementary School throughout the day – 2,390 (plus 100 write-ins) of over 4,700 registered voters.
Turnout was significantly higher than the average presidential primary, according to Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger.
Trump came out on top with 483 votes, Kasich in second with 240, and Rubio in third with 181.
Sanders beat Clinton in Mattapoisett, 691-610.
Over in Rochester, voters streamed in right up until 8:00 pm, just as polls were about to close.
Trump won amongst Rochester voters with 547, Rubio in second with 137, and Kasich in third with 122 votes.
Sanders beat Clinton significantly, 500-325.
Turnout was about 43 percent in Rochester, with 1,814 of 4,243 voters making it to the Rochester Senior Center to cast their ballots.
“It’s been awesome,” said Parker, summing up the day. “The largest turnout for a primary election in the 30 years that I’ve been here.”
By Jean Perry
