With the vote totals from the April 22 primary election still unofficial, a scan of the available numbers shows the turnout for the city of Pittsburgh was nearly 10 percent higher than for last year’s general election.

While this is good news, some say the huge turnout in largely Black districts—some that have yielded single-digit percentages in the past—is even more significant (see box).

“It’s interesting because primary elections usually have lower turnout than general elections,” said Tim Stevens, Black Political Empowerment Project president. “To see such a significant jump, that’s a big story. Black people are beginning to see the importance of the primary process. People got it and understood they could not wait until November. This is possibly historic, and definitely extremely encouraging.”

In the 12th Ward, which includes Homewood, Lincoln-Lemington, Larimer and East Liberty, voter turnout was nearly double the November 2007 total, up from 24.02 percent to 43.94 percent, an increase of 19.02 percent. Whether any of the county’s 3,000-plus newly registered voters accounted for any of the surge, or similar increases in other city wards, cannot yet be determined.

Twelveth Ward committeewoman Sylvia Wilson said she had difficulty identifying newly registered voters because, with three extra districts voting at her polling place for the first time, there were a lot of new faces anyway.

“We have a pretty good core of people who always show up, and I know they did. But I couldn’t tell about new voters,” she said. “Either way, I’m happy. We need to vote in large numbers all the time. Your vote is your voice. If you don’t use it, the politicians won’t hear you.”

Celeste Taylor of People for the American Way, who was monitoring several polls in the 13th and 14th Wards for voter problems, said the increased turnout she saw resulted from a combination of factors.

“There were a lot of new voters, but people also got up off the couch. But I saw a bunch more young people,” she said. “This is great news, it shows you that candidates and a competitive relevant race can make a difference. Hopefully, this will jumpstart a habit. It’s an important civics lesson generally.”

Hill District Committeeman Matt Moore said while the reliable older voters turned out as always, the 5th ward’s turnout, 43.45 percent compared to 26.01 percent in 2007—a 17.44 percent increase, he thinks the increase was due to young people responding to Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy.

“It was Obama’s appeal to younger people. I hope they are picking up the torch. I saw a lot of first-time voters throughout the Hill District,” he said. “People have been reinvigorated. I know I’m enthused, and expect to see young people voting in even bigger numbers in November if Obama wins the nomination.”

Stevens said he was not entirely surprised by numbers.

“I heard young people at the cashier in Giant Eagle talking about this election, and you normally don’t hear that,” he said. “This is an exciting and pivotal time. I congratulate the ward chairs and committee people for their work, and the voting public for getting that this is history in the making. The numbers are significant—we should be proud.”

(Send comments to cmorrow@newpitssburghcourier.com.)