VIDALIA &8212; Voter turnout was higher in Concordia Parish than the clerk of courts predicted.

Clyde Ray Webber guessed that about 30 percent of the voting population would show up at the polls on Saturday.

&8220;It was actually at about 40 percent, but I always feel the turnout could have been better,&8221; Webber said.

Webber said he thinks the majority of people who did not turn out were busy doing other activities or just forgot.

&8220;Lots of people probably went to ball games or went hunting and I&8217;m sure some people forgot there was even an election,&8221; Webber said.

Webber said he was pleased with the new electronic voting machines and he thinks the voters and poll workers were pleased as well.

&8220;They really worked well and the voters seemed to really like them,&8221; Webber said.

The only minor problem, Webber said, was that the zero sheets, print outs that are supposed to show zero votes for the candidates, did not print out correctly.

&8220;We got that taken care of before elections got started,&8221; Webber said.

Webber said what he was really happy about was how little time it took to get the votes into the secretary of state&8217;s office.

Before the new voting machines were used, poll commissioners would have to spend all night counting the votes and then the clerk of courts office would have to verify if the count was correct, Webber said.

&8220;We were collecting the votes at 10:15 p.m. and would have been out earlier but one of the machines was in New Era which is all the way at the south end of the parish,&8221; Webber said.

Webber said everyone using and helping with the machines did great.

&8220;When the new machines were introduced, I was real leery because I didn&8217;t have a lot of experience with the machines,&8221; Webber said. &8220;But now, after seeing all the safeguards and how easy the machines are to use, I&8217;m sold.&8221;