HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Turnout was good but not impressive for the 2012 municipal election.
There were 28,000 votes cast for Huntsville mayor on Tuesday, with Tommy Battle winning about 81 percent.
The city has around 123,000 registered voters, meaning only 22 percent turned out to cast a ballot this year.
Voters across the state will be asked to go to the polls once again on September 18 for the health care referendum vote on moving $437-million from the state trust fund to the general fund.
Officials said without the money the Medicaid program would be $100-million in the red.
Opponents said the crisis can be solved without raiding the state's savings.
Political analyst Waymon Burke predicted what type of turnout can be expected, and he said there is a strategy behind the vote being in September.
"In an issue like this, proponents purposely put these on the ballots where there is no other issue. It keeps the turnout low and that generally gives proponents of that issue a greater opportunity to succeed," said Burke.
Officials said the referendum vote is set to happen before the fiscal year begins.
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Dr. Waymon Burke believes keeping the turnout low gives proponents of an issue a greater opportunity to succeed.
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