Linn, Johnson counties report low voter turnout

CEDAR RAPIDS - Officials are reporting low voter turnout in Linn and Johnson counties for Tuesday's primary election.

In Linn County, about 8.8 percent of registered voters cast ballots, according to the Auditor's Office. Of the county's 150,985 registered voters, 13,305 cast ballots.

In Johnson County, about 10.7 percent of registered voters cast ballots, according to the Auditor's Office. Of the county's 82,992 registered voters, 8,891 cast ballots.

Officials said the low turnout was, in part, driven by a low number of Republicans and independents turning out to vote. Democratic voters cast ballots in much higher numbers in both counties.

In Linn County, about 11,200 ballots were cast by Democrats.

In Johnson County, about 8,100 ballots were cast by Democrats, and officials said a number of non-Democrats crossed over to vote in the Democratic primary for county supervisor. Among the 2,110 early voting ballots returned in Johnson County, 109 Republicans and 85 independents voted in the Democratic primary.

The supervisor race featured six Democrats vying for three at-large seats. Incumbent supervisors Rod Sullivan and Lisa Green-Douglass, along with newcomer Kurt Friese, took the top three spots.

Carrie Nierling, Johnson County's auditor of elections, said she isn't surprised so many switched parties to vote Tuesday, especially considering the county's largely uncontested Republican races.

Eric Loecher, election systems administrator at the Linn County Auditor's Office, agreed with that assessment.