T-R photo by Thomas Nelson — Diane Hart, of Marshalltown, gets ready to cast her ballot during the 2020 primary at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

The 2020 primary may break some records. 

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people voted during the 2020 primary, but it didn’t slow their desire to be heard.

At Marshall County’s four polling places turnout was steady all day with polling places in Marshalltown and State Center each having around 100 people by 2:30 p.m.

“It’s surprisingly high,” said Nancy Figgins, an election official at West Marshall Middle School, a polling location for Clemons, Melbourne, Rhodes, St. Anthony and State Center. “People have been great.”

According to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate 396,495 Iowans submitted absentee ballots for the 2020 Primary.

The election workers were all in good spirits, and cleaned voting booths after they were used. Marshall County Auditor Nan Benson said she tried to make election workers jobs easier, such as buying pens for people to cast their votes and then take with them.

“They were only 2 or 3 cents a piece,” Benson said. “I did not think it was worth for them to clean pens after every vote. It was just one less thing for workers to touch and then sanitize.”

They requested voters only use hand sanitizer after they voted because it could affect the ballot. 

New and old election workers made their way out to participate. The polling places all had made preparations to help keep people safe from the coronavirus with hand sanitizer, plexiglass windows and taped off social distancing spots on their floors. 

Early voting through absentee ballots early in the day showed at least 15 percent of registered voters had already sent in their votes. 

At Redeemer Lutheran Church, residents from the Third and Fourth wards in Marshalltown’ and the Timber Creek township area voted. The election officials had the same cleaning materials as the other polling locations, but they also offered free face masks for people. 

At Redeemer at least 130 people had cast a ballot by 2:30 p.m. and two people had cast provisional ballots. 

“It’s less than usual for a primary,” said Laurie Hannahs, an election official with 20 years of experience. Then again, she noted many more had cast their ballots via absentee. 

Benson said her office is keeping track of the steps put in place due to the pandemic, just in case the process needs to be repeated for the general election in November.

She is grateful the pandemic occurred during a primary election season. That means voters only have to worry about one side of the ballot, rather than two. That also means less touching of the ballots.

She is also open to any suggestions that might improve the safety of future elections.

“I told the precinct workers to let me know if they come up with ways to keep people safe,” Benson said.