Cedar Rapids precincts reporting low voter turnout

CEDAR RAPIDS - Althea Cole says she was taught at a young age to appreciate her right to vote.

That lesson came from her great-grandmother.

'I think it's sad that we have this privilege and it's not utilized,” said Cole, who was busy Tuesday serving as a Precinct 8 volunteer at Harding Middle School, 4801 Golf St. NE in Cedar Rapids. 'My great-grandmother couldn't vote until she was middle-aged with two children.”

Cole said she is disappointed by what she believes to be low voter turnout for today's primary election. She thinks some people may not grasp the importance of the right, and therefore don't take advantage of their chance to vote.

'It's sad, considering how much people's lives are influenced by elected officials and those appointed by elected officials,” she said.

Across Cedar Rapids, election officials on Tuesday morning were reporting minimal activity at polling locations.

'Usually we have voters waiting at the door when we arrive at 7 a.m.,” said Floyd Standford, chairman of Precinct 17, who was stationed at First Lutheran Church, 1000 3rd Ave. SE. 'There were none this year.”

Standford reported 19 voters had come through in the first three hours. He called the turnout 'disheartening.”

Robert Zeck, chairman of Precinct 33, said 43 voters had cast ballots by 11 a.m. at the Cedar Rapids City Services Center, 500 15th Ave. SW. He said he expects total voter turnout in Linn County to fall somewhere between 5 percent and 7 percent.

Despite the reports from the precincts, Linn County Auditor Joel Miller - who is squaring off in today's primary against challenger Joe Stutler - said votes are coming in at a higher rate than they have in previous elections.

At 11 a.m., 3,026 ballots were counted and 2,622 absentee ballots were turned in. That already equals a 4 percent turnout, he said, noting turnout during the 2014 primary election stood at just under 3 percent by 11 a.m.

Miller said it's possible turnout today could hit 16 percent if the current trend continues.

Polls remain open today until 9 p.m.