BALTIMORE (WJZ)– A big headline from the election– record low voter turnout!

Adam May has a look at why it may have happened.

Voter turnout was a disappointing 23 percent, the lowest in Baltimore’s modern history.

When Gov. Martin O’Malley showed up to vote in Tuesday’s city primary, he was the only one at his polling place. Turnout was just 74,000 people, less than a quarter of eligible voters showed up.

Reporter: “Why didn’t you vote?”
Baltimore Resident: “Too busy at work, and I have a baby on the way.”

“I didn’t know where my polling place was,” another resident said.

Reporter: “Did you vote?”
Resident: “No.”
Reporter: “Why?”
Resident: “Everybody that was running, I didn’t feel was a good candidate.”
Reporter: “You don’t like them?”
Resident: “No.”

“No single candidate emerged from the pack for a head-to-head confrontation with the mayor,” said Johns Hopkins political expert Matthew Crenson.

Crenson says the track record of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake also played a role.

“She hasn’t done anything dramatic, controversial, or anything to arouse people to vote against her,” he explained. “That’s smart politicking.”

Those who did vote are frustrated by the apathy of their neighbors.

“People complain all the time about things not getting done, then they don’t vote,” one voter said.

“The city is the cultural center of the state, and the rest of the state, it’s their problem, too,” another voter explained. “It’s not only our problem.”

Reporter: “You think residents should take this issue of elections more seriously?”
Voter: “No question about it. When they show they don’t care, what’s next?”

“I think people are more concerned about their own lives and the economy than the broader issue of politics,” a Baltimore voter said.

The mayor says she’s concerned about the low turnout, and that she is looking for ways to improve it before the next election.

Comments (14)
  1. Bernard Mc Kernan says:

    In a word, APATHY. People of Baltimore continue to vote Democratic no matter the candidate or their credentials. Corruption among city council & a pervasive abuse of monies earmarked for the poor & inner city schools go ignored. It’s sickening but the dummies continue to vote Democrat for the freebie handouts.

  2. Out of City says:

    Any city that has a mosly Black population can expect this kind of political apathy and/or dedication to Democratic leaders no matter how terrible. Can anyone say Marion Berry? Predominantly black cities, or at least where mostly blacks live are usually decaying crime infested roach nets. Any doubters? Ok, then I challenge you: Take a drive from Canton at Boston Street and go up Elwood until you reach patterson Park. Go to the other side of the park and compare the neighborhoods. South of Patterson Park to the Patapsco River water front is all white and beautiful while north of the park is all black and dirty ghetto. I’ve watched Canton over the past twenty years go from old rottting factories and wherehouses to expensive condos and fancy bars and restaurants with absolutely no black involvement with all balck neighborhoods just one mile away. Black people are pathetic and lazy people who just accept mediocrity. It’s not juts being second best, but just not appearing in the lineup at all. When I need intellectual stimulation and not talk about sports, hip hop, dumb Medea movies, or clubs I always have to turn to my white and Asian friends. I was just in London and Paris on vacation and I was so relieved to be away from Black Americans! What a reliefe it was! My I.Q. went up ten-fold.

    1. baltimore resident says:

      IQ went up because black IQ’s are so damn low

  3. JoeFromAACounty says:


  4. Out of City says:

    Mixed race blacks don’t really count because being nearly white usually improves them as people because of greater acceptance in society and therefore, seem to achieve more educationally and professionally.

    1. baltimore resident says:

      so true

  5. SanFordNSon says:

    Out of city you couldn’t had said it any better buddy but the black race always makes up lame excuses and lashes back because they know this is 100% true,I love speaking my mind about the black race they get sooo mad.

    1. baltimore resident says:


  6. stationnorth says:

    Could the fact that residents are moving out of the city have anything to do with the lower voter turnout? According to the Census, people are leaving the city in droves thus taking their votes with them.

    Also, if you have been convicted of a felon you can no longer vote. More criminals equals less voters.