Smith County had 38 polling locations for Super Tuesday, including the Heritage Building in Tyler. Of 157,173 registered voters, Smith County saw a 22% turnout in the joint primary elections held March 5.

Experts say low voter turnout puts a “vibrant democracy” at stake. And locally, the stakes are high.

Of 157,173 registered voters, Smith County saw a 22% turnout in the joint primary elections held March 5.

“It was what we were expecting, just not what we were hoping for,” Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon said.

Of the total, 85% of voters cast a Republican Party ballot while 15% cast a Democratic ballot, according to Smith County Elections Office unofficial report.

County Commissioner Precinct 3 candidates, incumbent Terry Phillips and opponent J. Scott Herod, will face a runoff after neither received 50% of the vote Tuesday. Precinct 1 incumbent Pam Frederick was defeated by challenger Christina Drewry by less than 100 votes.

If more people had been interested in and participated in voting for those races, the results could have been starkly different, Allcon said. Precinct 3 candidates must rally their supporters and build momentum to ensure a strong showing at the May 28 runoff.

While Allcon hoped for more participation, the turnout is comparable to previous primary elections. About 36,087 ballots were cast, compared to 35,049 in 2022 and 40,036 in 2020 primary elections.

“Typically, early voting is roughly half the turnout,” Allcon said. “Early voting was a little over half in this election.”

Early voting comprised 18,015 – more than half the total ballots.

Voting early made an impactful difference not only in election results but also in voters’ experiences at the polls, Allcon said. Residents getting out to vote early spread out the population, leading to shorter lines and a lessened load for poll workers on Election Day.

Federal candidates Donald Trump, Joseph Biden, Colin Allred, and Ted Cruz were the runaway winners Tuesday, said Dr. Kenneth Bryant Jr., a political science associate professor at UT Tyler. A lack of enthusiasm for those candidates contributed to low voter turnout, he said.

“These are already affairs with a low turnout,” Bryant said. “The fact that the primaries were not competitive didn’t compel too many people to come out.”

Bryant said people’s votes matter the most during local elections. In the presidential election, one vote out of millions pales compared to participating in local elections, where races are called with a much smaller number of total votes. Just 95 votes stood in between a win for Precinct 1 Commissioner Frederick.

Additionally, the results of local elections make a difference in a resident’s life. Decisions by local elected officials impact roads and bridges, schools, emergency management and more.

“The primary with the local races (such as) the city, school elections, those are the ones that have a greater impact on the individual,” Allcon said. “It’s essential that people take the time to come out and vote for those races.”

Voting in local elections is essential to individuals’ well-being and daily lives.

“If you have a stake in the community and want to be a part of guiding and leading the community, based on whatever your values may be, you have to participate,” Bryant said.

He said the political landscape has been disgruntled and unmotivating for American voters. While everyone wouldn’t benefit from attending local government meetings, people should tune into their hobbies and get involved with groups with similar interests to have an impact.

“There are other things that people can get themselves involved with that won’t feel like labor,” Bryant said. “It’ll feel like what they want to be doing.”

Allcon said people seem less interested in local races, which is sad, but she remains hopeful voters will prove her wrong and turn out for the May runoff and May municipal elections.

“It’s up to the campaigns to try to mobilize these folks, to speak to these populations,” Bryant said. “A vibrant democracy requires a vibrant electorate. It requires participation.”

In addition to the May 28 runoff between Republican candidates Phillips and Herod for the Precinct 1 commissioner seat, voters have the opportunity to vote in city and school board elections on May 4.

Elections are being held for six independent school districts, three cities and the Smith County Appraisal District.

Schools

• Arp ISD is electing two people to serves in Place 3 and 4 for its Board of Trustees.
• Bullard ISD is electing two people to serves in Place 4 and 5 on its Board of Trustees.
• Chapel Hill is electing two people to serves in Place 6 and 7.
• Troup ISD is electing three trustees for Place 1, 5 and 5.
• Tyler ISD is electing two people for District 5 and 7.
• Whitehouse ISD is electing two people to service in Place 4 and 5.

Cities

• The City of Arp is electing a mayor and two city council members.
• The City of Lindale is electing a mayor and council place 2.
• The City of Tyler is electing a mayor and council members for District 2, 4 and 6.

The Smith County Appraisal District is electing three board members for Place 1, 2 and 3.