With Low Turnout, Somerville GOP Voters Choose Romney

Voter turnout in Somerville was about 8 percent in Tuesday's presidential primary, and those who cast Republican ballots overwhelmingly voted for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Some 1500 people cast Republican ballots in a city that has just 1966 registered Republicans (which represents 4.5 percent of the electorate; Somerville is the least Republican city in the state).

A number of those 1500 voters may have been unenrolled residents—independents—who decided to pull a Republican ballot in order to participate in that highly publicized contest.

According to unofficial results, 884 people voted for Romney. Ron Paul came in second with 338 votes, followed by Rick Santorum (159 votes) and Newt Gingrich (65 votes.)

On the other side of the political fence, 1965 Somervillians pulled a Democtratic ballot, about 8 percent of registered Democrats, though the percentage of Democrats who voted is probably lower because some independents likely pulled a Democratic ballot.

Of those who voted with the Democrats, 1584 voted for Barack Obama, who is unopposed in this year's presidential primary.

Only 34 people pulled a Green-Rainbow Party ballot.