By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Around 20,000 residents cast their ballots — either in person or via absentee — in the Nov. 5 general election.
Based on numbers obtained from the Barren County Clerk’s Office, 19,976 people voted, which, when compared to Barren County’s registered voter total, equates to 61.2 percent — of which roughly 24.03 percent of that is from some form of early voting. That turnout, which Barren County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell said is typical for an election that features both the presidential race and local ones, is roughly 50 percentage points higher than the turnout seen during the primary election, which was 10.2 percent.
For context during the 2020 election, which saw an increase in early voting numbers due to the pandemic, had a 61.5 percent turnout with 20,164 votes cast.
Birdwell said that while most things went smoothly — with all polling places reporting by 9:30 p.m. — she did acknowledge a few technical “hiccups” during the 12-hour period polls were open on Nov. 5, specifically citing the new on-demand printing of ballots that they first began using in May.
As previously mentioned, a voter turnout above 50 percent is about average for a ballot that featured local government, local school board and presidential elections.
Comments