Turnout low - again

Local elections just don’t pull like the presidential races do.

One year ago, when Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton, 87.25 percent of Kootenai County’s registered voters cast ballots. (The Trump-Pence ticket beat the Clinton-Kaine duo, 44,449-16,264, by the way.)

But that was then and this is (gulp) now.

Now as in 8.45 percent voter turnout in Tuesday’s election, which featured races throughout Kootenai County for mayor, city council seats and fire district commissions.

Looking back on recent local elections, here’s how Tuesday’s unofficial turnout stacks up, according to the Kootenai County Elections Department:

2017: 8.45 percent turnout

2015: 18.58

2013: 24.02

2011: 19.08

2009: 22.76

2007: 21.56

2005: 26.25

2003: 25.91