No records set for voter turnout

Princeton voters take their place in line Tuesday morning at the Farm Bureau Building polling place. About 64 percent of Bureau County's registered voters went to the polls throughout the county to elect a new president, as well as various representatives and county board members. (BCR photo/Donna Barker)

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PRINCETON — Though Bureau County had a good voter turnout for Tuesday’s presidential election, the numbers were far from record breaking. Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus reported 17,264 ballots were cast Tuesday in Bureau County, which is about 64 percent of the county’s 26,861 registered voters. There have been several times when the voter turnout has exceeded 70 percent, she said.

According to records kept by Hieronymus’ office, Bureau County reached an 82-percent voter turnout in 1992 for the Bush/Clinton election, a 79-percent turnout in 1984 for the Reagan/Mondale race, and a 75-percent turnout in 1980 for the Carter/Reagan race.

In spite of Tuesday’s non-record turnout, her office and the polling places were steadily busy all day, Hieronymus said.

“It was a good day. The phones were busy and the interest level up about this election,” Hieronymus said Wednesday. “Anytime we can get 60 percent of the voters out, that’s good.”

Voter turnout for non-presidential elections typically fall in the 30-36 range, Hieronymus said.

Concerning Tuesday’s election, Bureau County precincts with the largest turnouts were Milo and Princeton 1, with both precincts having 74 percent of their registered voters going to the polls. On the other end of the voting spectrum was Hall 1, with the lowest percentage of voter turnout at 49 percent.

Bureau County’s 50 precincts were split just about down the middle when it came to presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, with Obama carrying 24 precincts to McCain’s 26 precincts.

As expected in the predominately-Democratic eastern side of the county, Obama carried all 10 Hall precincts and three Selby townships. But the Democrat also carried precincts throughout the rest of the county, including Princeton 7, Walnut 1, Neponset, Mineral and Manlius. In Ohio 1, Obama lost by one vote to McCain.

Overall, Obama got 51.8 percent of Bureau County’s vote, compared to 46.1 percent for McCain. Coming in third in the presidential race for Bureau County was Independent candidate Ralph Nader, with 158 votes, which amounted to .9 percent.