Compared to previous years, the Kent polls had fewer voters casting their ballots.

Election Officer Marie Whaley said the turnout as of 2 p.m. was relatively low compared to previous years at the United Church of Christ. As of the early afternoon, no one had to wait in line. In earlier primary elections, there were sometimes four people waiting to vote, Whaley said.

Based on previous years, she said she expected voter turnout would be a little less this year. Her guess was that Portage County would have about a 20 percent turnout. As of 2 p.m., she guessed the percentage was around 10 percent.

Austin Corthell, a public relations graduate student, said he has been voting since he was 18.

Corthell said he thinks voting is important because each vote gets counted somewhere. His vote may not be the final decision breaker, but he still knows that it matters.

“If you don’t vote, you don’t have room to complain about what’s going on,” he said.

Whaley is also an avid voter. She’s been voting since 1971, when 18 year olds gained the right to vote.

“My parents said they didn’t care who or what I voted for. I just had to vote,” She said. “It was a big thing when I was in high school.”

She said her job title does not include counting the votes but she feels confident about the process.

“I feel my vote counts because I know it’s handled confidently and securely in Portage County,” she said.

Contact Rachel Hagenbaugh at [email protected].