Turnout remains strong for Linn County gambling referendum, despite snow

UPDATE: Voters continue to turn out in large numbers for today's Linn County gambling vote, despite a significant snowstorm.

Nearly 14 percent of eligible Linn County voters had cast ballots in the county-wide referendum as of 3 p.m. today, according to a report from county auditor Joel Miller.

12,156 votes were cast between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, according to Miller's report. Combined with the 8.778 that had gone to the polls before 11 a.m., a total of 13.7 percent of the county's 152,754 registered voters have cast ballots so far today.

Turnout has been strongest at the county's metro area precincts, including Fairfax, Hiawatha and Robins, with 16.5 percent of eligible voters casting ballots as of 3 p.m. -- a total of 1,505 ballots. Other totals include:

• Cedar Rapids metro precincts, with 11,792 total ballots cast (13.05 percent);
• Marion precincts, with 3,366 ballots cast (13.08 percent); and
• Rural township precincts, with 4,271 ballots cast (15.51 percent).

12.78 percent of the county's registered voters cast early ballots via absentee voting, according to Miller's report -- a total of 19,518 ballots.

Turnout in most precincts is running well ahead of the last Linn County special election, the local-option sales tax referendum on March 6, 2012, where just over 10 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots as of 3 p.m.

Polls in Linn County are open until 8 p.m.