Turnout low in District 55 House primary

Poll workers are reporting low turnout today in the special Democratic primary for House District 55. The polls will be open until 7 p.m.

As of 4 p.m., Pinellas County had an average 4.83 percent turnout rate of voters who cast their ballots today. Early and absentee voters added another 2.6 percent turnout, said Nancy Whitlock, a spokeswoman for the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections.

The candidates include attorney Darryl Rouson, St. Petersburg City Councilman Earnest Williams and Charles McKenzie, an educator and minister.

The office already received 718 absentee ballots and logged 55 ballots from early voters.

"Traditionally you have a lower turnout for special elections," said Whitlock, adding the shortened campaigning time and unusual date lead to fewer voters casting ballots. "It’s something out of the ordinary."

To find your polling place, go to votepinellas.com.

The winner of today's primary will face write-in candidate Calvester Benjamin-Anderson on April 15.

The District 55 seat has been open since February when former Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, was appointed to head the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Nearly two-thirds of the district’s 70,000 voters are Democrats. The seat includes Pinellas County and slivers of three others: Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota.

--Stephanie Garry and Heather Urquides, Times staff writers