The enthusiasm for a mid-term general election in Fayette County was unprecedented this cycle, according to election officials.
Voter turnout was just over 50 percent with 8,474 ballots cast out of 16,737 registered voters, according to unofficial totals from the Fayette County Board of Elections released following the election Tuesday.
“It was a phenomenal turnout,” said Robin Beekman, chairman of the local board of elections. “To be over 50 percent, which is up quite a bit from the last mid-term, is just wonderful. We could tell it was going to be a high turnout because all precincts were busy all day.”
A significant factor in the high turnout were early voting numbers. Approximately 2,474 absentee ballots were cast in Fayette County, compared to 1,466 at the 2014 mid-terms.
“We were expecting it to be higher this time around and it certainly was,” said Fayette County Board of Elections Director Beth Ann Snyder.
Over 100 provisional ballots still need to be counted for the official total, as well as some absentee ballots that came through the mail, said Beekman. Those will be counted on Nov. 19.
“We are just very happy that so many people came out to vote and we’re proud of the turnout,” said Beekman. “We so appreciate our poll workers. They did such a great job. We also have a great staff here and they always make sure things get done the right way.”
