Western North Carolina voters turned out in record numbers for Tuesday’s primary election.

Turnout was double or nearly double what is typically witnessed in a primary election. Most polling sites had a solid stream of voters throughout the day. At the Salvation Army polling site in Waynesville, 15 people were already lined up at 6:30 a.m. when the doors opened.

While pundits pegged the high turnout on the presidential election, Obama and Clinton weren’t the only issue on voters’ minds.

In Haywood County, a quarter-cent sales tax for Haywood Community College and a vote to legalize liquor drinks in Waynesville drove a substantial number of voters to the polls. Both ballot measures passed by a comfortable margin.

“I would say the energy is directed at the Democratic presidential race,” said Bob Clark, a campaign volunteer for Obama who spent the day stationed at various polling sites in Haywood County. “The Haywood Community College tax is probably bringing people out, as is liquor in Waynesville. But I would say the interest is mostly on the presidential race.”

In Jackson County, the race for county commissioners was a significant drawing card for voters. The race was cast as a litmus test of how voters felt about a stringent set of development regulations swept in by the sitting board of commissioners. The development regulations dominated the news in Jackson County last year, heightened by a six-month moratorium on new subdivisions. Opponents of the moratorium and the regulations swore to get back at the commissioners come election time. A vote for the incumbents was billed as a vote for the development regulations. Ultimately, the incumbents won.

Early voting was high in all counties as the idea of voting in the weeks leading up to Election Day continues to catch on across the state. In Haywood, nearly 25 percent of those who cast their ballots did so during early voting. In Jackson County, 39 percent voted early.

All about the president

Despite other juicy measures on the ballot, the presidential race no doubt drove the unusually high turnout for a primary. That theory played out time and again in exit poll interviews conducted by The Smoky Mountain News. Another indicator that high turnout was due to the Clinton-Obama race is the difference in turnout between the two parties. Voter turnout among Democrats was far higher than of Repulicans, who lacked any high-drama races on their ballots.

Among those lured to the polls by the presidential race was Chris Anderson, 32, of Canton.

“I haven’t voted for anything in the last four years,” Anderson said, including the last presidential election.

Anderson was inspired by Obama but also motivated by the fact that the race was still actually a race by the time it got to North Carolina.

“North Carolina is going to be one of the deciding states this year,” Anderson said.

For Rusty Owens of Sylva, it was her first time voting in 30 years. Owens, 50, came out to vote for Hillary.

But for most voters lured to the polls for the first time — or the first time in a long time — Obama was the drawing card.

Ben Ward, 19, of Cullowhee, came out just for the presidential primary, namely to vote for Obama. It was a recurring theme at the polling site closest to Western Carolina University. Chevon Keith, also a student, turned out to vote for Obama, just as young people across the state were predicted to do.

Like Keith, voters driven to the polls for the Obama-Clinton race were sometimes clueless when it came to the other races on the ballot.

Steve Lloyd of Clyde, who came out to vote for Obama, couldn’t remember who got his vote for county commissioner by the time he got to the parking lot.

“I don’t follow the other issues as much,” Lloyd said.

Troy Fox of Canton came out to vote in what he called “the major race,” and for county commissioner picked the two whose names he recognized the most: Mary Ann Enloe and Mark Swanger, ultimately the two winners.

Megan Greene, an 18-year-old and senior at Pisgah High School in Canton, was inspired to come out and vote for Obama. That, and the fact that “I just wanted to vote,” as Greene put it. But when it came to the commissioners’ race, she was lost.

After voting for president, Don Thompson of Waynesville just skipped the commissioner race, feeling he didn’t know enough about the candidates. In Jackson County, Keith skipped over the local races as well after ticking off his support for Obama.

Other Haywood factors

Haywood County had the highest percentage turnout in the region as 40 percent of registered voters went to the polls. That’s a far cry over the primary two years ago when only 17 percent turned out. The extra turnout in Haywood seemed to hinge on the HCC sales tax vote and the liquor vote in Waynesville. The sales tax measure brought Rachele Poole, 39, of Clyde to polls. As a Republican, there were no candidates she was interested in.

“I came out for the HCC vote. I have been a student and I think it will benefit the college,” Poole said.

Several voters interviewed at the polls in Haywood cited the sales tax vote to benefit the community college as an inspiration to bring them to the polls.

Anita Powell of Waynesville was drawn to the polls by the liquor vote. Powell, a Republican, had little else on her ballot to inspire her but wanted to cast her vote in favor of liquor by the drink.