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Record breaking primary results

Election records were destroyed Tuesday as Iowans made their voices heard en mass. 

The 2020 primary broke Marshall County and Iowa’s record for highest turnout.

“It was definitely record setting; we had over 4,200 absentee ballots,” said Nan Benson, Marshall County Auditor and Recorder. ”

More than 5,000 people put forth a ballot either on Tuesday or through via absentee. 

Those absentee ballots may have made a big difference is getting the record breaking turnout all around the state. 

The next highest showing was in 2010 when 4,519 ballots were cast. 

The result broke records despite a worldwide pandemic forcing people to stay in their homes. More than 20 percent of registered voters took part in Tuesday’s primary. 

About 800 people voted in person around the county on the day of the primary. 

This was a record breaking year for absentee ballots, absentee ballots request received and total turnout. 

Benson thinks November’s election may require the same mail in ballots and safety precautions for election officials as this primary needed. 

Iowa’s Secretary of State Paul Pate said, “The State of Iowa shattered turnout records for a June primary Tuesday night after more than 500,000 voters cast ballots. Thank you Iowans for making your voices heard.”

He gave credit to voters, poll workers and county auditors.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and protests going on across the state, Iowans made their voices heard in record numbers,” Pate said. “I am so proud of everyone who participated and the people behind the scenes in all 99 counties that made it happen.”

He added that the numbers surpassed records for all-time turnout for a June primary. 

“The previous high in Iowa was 449,490 in 1994. My hats off to Iowa voters, poll workers and county auditors,” he said. 

For the first time in recent history Democrats out performed Republicans during the primary. In Marshall County Republicans voters had higher turnouts usually at a rate of 3 to 1, even when both had competitive primaries going on. 

This year more than 2,600 Democratic voters came out, compared to 2,300 Republican voters. 

“It tells me Democratic voters must’ve liked receiving the ballots at their home,” Benson said. “We’ll know more when we get to the canvass.” 

In less than a week the Marshall County Board of Supervisors will canvass the elections results making them official. 

More absentee ballots could come in between now and Monday at noon. 

“Everything went quite well,” Benson said. 

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Contact Thomas Nelson at tnelson@timesrepublican.com.

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