In the wake of the Illinois primary races, one expert says heavy rains, driving winds and foggy roads might have caused low voter turnout.

I would think weather is always expected to have an impact, but that’s not the only factor, said John Jackson, a political analyst and SIUC provost.

Unofficial counts from the Jackson County Clerk’s Office reported 24.5 percent of registered voters cast ballots. About 17 percent punched Democratic tickets while 7 percent voted in the Republican primary.

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Although the weather may have deterred some voters from battling the elements to get to their local polling place, Jackson said turnout in primary elections is almost always low because voters are apathetic when it comes to primaries. Numbers improve for general elections, he said.

Efforts by Jackson County registrars to get students involved in the primary election appeared to have little if any effect. Although a 5,381 were registered, only 376, or 7 percent, voted. The highest concentration of student voters is in the precinct that includes Brush Towers and University Park where 1,441 are registered. At each of the five student precincts, Democratic votes outnumbered Republican votes, with 70 percent casting Democratic ballots and 30 percent voting in the Republican primary. Jackson said the numbers are not surprising.

Students are usually down in the single digits, Jackson said.

Now that the hotly contested governor’s primary race is over, the general election in November pits Democrat nominee Glenn Poshard against Republican nominee George Ryan. That race may be tighter than the primary, Jackson said.

That’s going to be a heck of a battle between Glenn Poshard and George Ryan, he said. It will be very competitive and very contested.

As Secretary of State, Ryan is known for initiating the Use It and Lose It law which allows police to confiscate drivers’ licenses from underage drivers who have alcohol on their breath. That program and others garnered praise from citizens and boosted Ryan into the spotlight.

Despite Ryan’s fame, Jackson said Poshard gives the Democrats an excellent chance to win back the governor’s seat for the first time in 22 years.

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He can talk to the party and energize them in ways they haven’t been for years, Jackson said.