Tuesday's dismal 16.14 percent turnout at the polls may not be a record breaker, but it is lower than recent primary results in nonpresidential election years.

The turnout for the May primary in 2006 was 19 percent.

The Moore County Board of Elections will meet Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the elections office in Carthage to certify the results. At that time, the results will become official.

County Elections Director Glenda Clendenin does not expect any substantial change in the results. The board will count provisional ballots and also a few military absentee ballots that came in after the deadline. Clendenin said that the law has been changed to allow some leeway in the military ballots, but the number represents no more than a sprinkling of votes.

Of the county's 60,069 registered voters, only 9,693 marked ballots in the primary election. That includes those voting Tuesday and early one-stop absentee voters.

RUNOFF - Voters registered as Democrats and unaffiliated voters who chose to participate in the Democratic primary Tuesday will be asked to return to the polls in June for a runoff election for the U.S. senatorial nomination.

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall led the field of six Democrats vying for the party nomination for the seat held by Republican Richard Burr but failed to garner the required 40 percent to avoid a runoff with Cal Cunningham, a Lexington attorney and former state senator.

Burr handily defeated three challengers for the Republican nomination.

Marshall and Cunningham will face off on Tuesday, June 22, when the turnout may well be even lower. It will be the only statewide second primary.

GOP UNITY - Bob Levy, chairman of the Moore County Republican Party, has announced that the Conservative Unity Picnic will be held at Cannon Park in Pinehurst on Sunday, May 16, beginning at noon.

"With this attitude of unity, we will become the majority party in both the Congress and legislature, reversing our drift toward socialism and effectively commencing the next conservative revolution," Levy said in a statement issued after the primary election.

In addition to recognizing winners of the GOP primary, Levy mentioned statewide wins by Republicans in the nonpartisan primary for Court of Appeals.

"Certainly there are disappointed candidates and supporters of candidates who worked hard for the issues to which they were dedicated," he said. "To those people, we reach out and ask that the enthusiasm they demonstrated on behalf of their candidate be channeled toward our current nominees."

CAPITAL PROJECTS - The Major Capital Projects Task Force will put final touches on construction for the public safety/detention center at a special meeting called for 10 a.m. Monday, May 17, in the Department of Public Works conference room in Carthage.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners cleared the way on Monday for the task force to proceed with documents needed before the county can advertise for bids. The board's May 3 vote separates the public safety complex/detention center from the government office building in the contract bidding process.

SALT - Members of Sandhills Area Land Trust will gather at Shadow Lake Forest in Carthage on Saturday, May 15, for their annual meeting and celebration.

May 7 is the deadline to make reservations by calling (910) 695-1386.

Features of the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. meeting include a barbecue lunch, a lecture, botanical walk, nature trails and private tour. Shadow Lake Forest, also known as the "Mac" Davis Baker property, is slated for future protection by SALT.

SALES TAX - Three counties approved an additional quarter-cent sales tax in referendums held during the Tuesday primary elections.

Moore County voters previously turned down a similar attempt a few years ago, after likewise voting down a measure calling for a land transfer fee.

Duplin, New Hanover and Onslow counties join seven counties that have approved the additional tax since 2009, according to a report from the N.C. Association of County Commissioners. The N.C. General Assembly gave counties this option in 2007 with passage of legislation relieving counties of the Medicaid burden but taking away a state sales tax.

Contact Florence Gilkeson by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.