Voter turnout was modest at best across Iowa for Tuesday’s general city and school elections, though communities with bond issues or contested races on the ballot generally saw higher participation.
As of Wednesday (11/5) morning, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office reported results from 98 of 99 counties, with Floyd County the lone county yet to report. Statewide turnout stood just over 16.5%, with nearly 353-thousand out of more than 2.1 million registered voters.
Locally, turnout varied widely. In Franklin County, where most city and school contests were uncontested, just 998 voters participated, representing about 16% of the county’s 6,155 registered voters. Butler County, which featured several contested races and school funding measures, saw voter turnout climb to nearly 29%, with over 2,800 ballots cast. In Hardin County, where voters also decided school bond issues, and Iowa Falls had contested mayor and city council races, nearly 25% of the county’s registered voters participated.
Counties with competitive races or ballot questions tended to report higher voter participation, while areas with mostly uncontested seats or limited ballot measures saw fewer voters at the polls. Certified results will be finalized once all counties complete their canvass in the coming days.
More details and election results can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website here: https://electionresults.iowa.gov/IA/124196/web.345435/#/summary
