Johnson County reports record voter turnout

Johnson County has had a record turnout for an off-year election, according to Johnson County Auditor Tom Slockett. The controversial 21-only issue on the ballot may have brought more voters out to the polls.

Voting started out slow this morning compared to previous years, picking up at 11 a.m. and by 3 p.m. it was above the median turn out for the previous off-year elections since 1982.

Johnson County voters reported long lines at the polls with waiting periods of a half hour or more in some cases.

Iowa City resident Becky Ogann reports that she was in line for an hour and fifteen minutes. Ogann says that other people voting at her precinct were in line for nearly two hours.

Slockett urged voters to stay in line. Under Iowa law, anyone in line at 9:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.