Absentee Ballots Credited For High Voting Numbers

So much for the theory that the COVID-19 pandemic would keep voter participation numbers down for Iowa’s primary elections on June 2.

The end result was quite the contrary, actually.

Nearly one-half of all registered voters in Mills County took part in the primary. Statewide, more than 522,000 ballots were cast, setting a record while shattering the previous high mark of 449,000 from 1994.

In Mills County, the turnout was 44 percent, a remarkable number when compared to recent primary election years – 13 percent in 2018, 9 percent in 2016 and 14 percent in 2014.

Both state and county election officials say the reason for the high turnout is clear – Iowans were provided an opportunity to easily and safely cast an absentee ballot.

“I do think our numbers increased immensely because of the absentee request forms sent out by the secretary of state,” Mills County Auditor and Election Commissioner Carol Robertson said.

The impact absentee voting had on the primary elections in Iowa can’t be understated. In Mills County, 2,491 absentee ballots were submitted - 76 percent of the 3,269 primary total. Statewide, 411,000 of 522,000 voters went with the absentee ballot.

Robertson noted that the pandemic resulted in local election officials having to consolidate voting precincts and providing alternative means for voters who wanted to cast their ballot early at county courthouses that were closed to the public because of COVID-19. In Mills County, the alternative solution was a drive-up, curbside process in the courthouse parking lot.

“I think we actually did pull it off fairly well. We had to really think out of the box and I think things went smoothly. We were a little busy at times with the drive-up people, but we were able to maintain that and stay on top of it,” Robertson said. “We did have a number of people go to the polls. We had no complaints from those that did, whether they felt unsafe or didn’t like the way things were going. We didn’t hear from anybody and my co-workers all thought things went fairly smooth.”

Robertson said there were some issues with voters not returning the absentee ballots they had requested.

“Technically, it is an offense if you don’t send in your ballot or return it or mark it spoiled. We’ve never policed it,” she said. “People tear up the ballots, or whatever, but we have to account for it on our print-outs.”

Robertson said not all voters understood their primary ballot would list only candidates from one political party. She noted several Democratic ballots included write-in votes for Republican candidates seeking election to local offices in Mills County. Those votes did not count toward the candidate’s total in the Republican Party race.