Belden leads the County in voter turn out

HARTINGTON — Like the rest of the nation, Cedar County saw an increase in voter turnout during this year’s Midterm Election Tuesday.

A 63 percent voter turnout ties a 20-year high in Cedar County during a non-presidential election year. That is two percentage points higher than the midterm average for the county, said Cedar County Clerk and Election Commissioner Dave Dowling.

“Our general overall is 66 percent, our midterms average is 61 percent.”

Part of the increase comes from a successful voter response in All-Mail precincts, which accounts for eight of the 13 precincts in Cedar County.

“We had 50 percent at the polls and 72 percent from All-Mail, for a 63 percent voter turnout,” said Dowling.

During the 2016 election, there was a 75 percent voter turnout, the highest since before 1982. The 12 percent drop from presidential election year to midterm election year is the smallest decrease since the 2006 midterms, when a 63 percent voter turnout followed a 73 percent turnout in the 2004 election.

The highest turnout in Cedar County was an 80 percent turnout from Belden, an All-Mail precinct, with 123 of 154 available votes cast.

“Belden usually has the highest and they had 80 percent,” said Dowling.

Following Belden were three precincts with 72 percent, also All-Mail. Of the polling locations, Randolph held the highest turnout with 393 of 681 voters reporting, for 58 percent. Behind Randolph was Laurel with 55 percent, Coleridge with 48 percent, and Hartington and Wynot tied at 44 percent.

Despite the high turnout, results rolled out rather quickly, as only one minor issue stalled results from coming out momentarily. Dowling said a sensor was faulty but a call to a technician had the issue quickly resolved.

Dowling also said he had some extra help this year.

“It went very well,” said Dowling. “We incorporated a little extra help to do the write-ins, and with the extra help it went real smooth.”

Overall he said he was pleased and relieved with how everything ran and wanted to thank all those that helped.

“I want to thank my office staff. They are fantastic and have been doing this about as long as I have, a couple of them. They did a fantastic job, and I also incorporated some help from the Assessors office and Treasurers office and they have worked on elections with me for a while too.”