By CRAIG FREILICH

There were widespread reports from downstate about many disgruntled would-be voters who were turned away from the polls in last week’s presidential primary, and there were a few unhappy voters in St. Lawrence County, too.

“There are always disgruntled voters in every election,” said St. Lawrence County Republican Elections Commissioner Tom Nichols.

The source of their unhappiness was finding out that they didn’t qualify to vote in the primary because they weren’t registered with either the Democratic or Republican party, a requirement in New York State with only Republican and Democratic candidates on the ballot.

“State law has been very clear on that for decades,” Nichols said, and he and Democratic Commissioner Jennie Bacon made an effort to publicize that fact once more for voters here.

There were some complaints also of long lines and long wait times. Some of that might be the result of fewer polling places for the primary than for a general election, a cost-cutting made because many fewer voters typically show up for primaries.

Because of the apparent high interest in this year’s primary candidates, “Jennie and I planned for higher turnout and printed more ballots than usual, to protect everyone's right to vote,” Nichols said.

He said they planned for, but didn’t necessarily expect, 70 percent of registered Democrats and Republicans turning out.

In fact about half that many turned out, 33 percent of registered Republicans and 33 percent of Democrats, not counting absentees ballots and based on the preliminary, unofficial tallies.

“We plan high so no one runs the risk of not getting a ballot,” Nichols said, and also to ensure they have enough ballots to cover people who might make a mistake and need another one before it goes to the tabulating machine.

"It's cheap insurance to make sure people's right to vote is protected,” he said.