Voter turnout has set a record for midterm elections, exceeding 47.9 percent, according to Election Commissioner Bruce Newby.
Turnout on Election Day as of 7 p.m. was 23,985, Newby stated. Adding early voting of 7,686 and ballots cast by mail of 8,309, the total turnout was 39,980.
The turnout percentage of 47.9 percent was higher than the previous turnout record in midterm elections of 44 percent, set in 2002, Newby stated.
The turnout numbers do not include by-mail ballots that were dropped off at a polling place today, or ballots they will receive through the end of this week that were postmarked by 7 p.m. today, according to Newby. The count also does not include provisional ballots that are counted when approved by the Wyandotte County Board of Canvassers.
Newby stated that the number of provisional ballots won’t be determined until there is a good count on Wednesday, Newby stated. From early indications, the number of provisional ballots will not exceed what is normal for this number of voters, he stated.
Newby also stated that there were several calls about problems that were relatively minor, and that the election office was able to correct those quickly.