Region has high turnout at polls

Voter turnout in Super Tuesday’s presidential primary hit an all time high across the North Shore.Marblehead Town Clerk Robin Michaud, who saw a 57 percent voter turnout, said the primary was marked by a significant increase in first time voters.”And older voters were getting here any way they could,” she said. “It was really sweet.”Swampscott’s voter turnout ranked just behind Marblehead with a 54 percent showing.Given the interest surrounding the election that could put the first black, first woman or even the first Mormon in the White House, Michaud said she was still stunned by the turnout.”It was hard to tell what the turnout would be,” she said. “I knew it would be more. I guessed (last night) it was 60 percent. I wasn’t far off.”Michaud, however, said she was very excited by the high showing.”It was very steady all day and it was really exciting,” she said. “It was so many people. It was really very nice.”Saugus Town Clerk Joanne Rappa said the 44.7 percent voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary was three times the turnout for the 2004 presidential election. When asked if the numbers surprised her, Rappa’s eyes grew wide.”Oh my gosh, yes,” she said.Rappa said when she first began to schedule poll workers she wasn’t concerned because she had the minimum and she didn’t think it would be a huge election.But as time went on she said she realized they were in for big day and she was able to schedule accordingly.For 18-year old Kyle Raiche of Saugus, Super Tuesday was his first vote ever cast in the democratic process and he was thrilled.”I enjoy being able to voice my opinion,” Raiche said.Though Raiche comes from a politically active family – his mother is a former Selectman and his father a former Town Meeting member – he said it was his history teacher, Rick Lavoie, that spurred him to vote.Lavoie teaches “Contemporary Citizen,” where Raiche said he urges students to let their voices be heard.Voters in Lynn spent the day letting their voices be heard as well with a 41 percent voter turnout, which is about double the turnout for the 2004 election.In Peabody, City Clerk Tim Spanos said he expected the day to be busy but it was a little busier than even he anticipated.”It was off the wall,” he said. “But it was good.”With a 50 percent turnout, Spanos said he saw voters come out that he suspects had not voted in years.”I can’t wait for the final (November) election,” he said. “We’ll probably get slammed.”