Voter turnout in Linn, Johnson counties strong and steady

With roughly five hours remaining until polls close, voter turnout remains robust at polling locations in Linn and Johnson counties, with some precinct leaders in Cedar Rapids reporting record turnout.

Steve Lehmann, precinct chairman at the River of Life Ministries polling location, 3801 Blairs Ferry Road NE, said he saw about 150 voters at the location between 7 and 8 a.m., more than he'd seen since 2012. He said voting increased again around the noon hour. He estimates about 1,000 of the 1,800 registered voters in Cedar Rapids' 1st Precinct are likely to vote by the time polls close at 9 p.m.

According to the Linn County Auditor's Office, more than 27 percent of the county's 154,412 registered voters - 42,229 people - cast their ballots today as of 3 p.m. Adding in the 42,168 ballots returned before Election Day and that percentage increases to more than 54 percent.

Goma Poudel, 20, and Bidhya Vahttarai, 19, both students at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, voted midday Tuesday. Poudel and Vahttarai, sisters-in-law, moved from Nepal five years ago, and said they wanted to take their first opportunity to have a voice in American politics. Each voted for Hillary Clinton.

'We want to make history,” Vahttarai said. 'In America, there's always been a guy being the (president). I want to see how a woman can take a man's space and bring something new. I just thought she is perfect.”

More than 620 voters had visited Antioch Christian Church in Marion by 12:30 p.m., where Cedar Rapids, Marion and Bertram Township residents could vote.

Brian Gray, 36, of Cedar Rapids, said he voted for Donald Trump because he believes Trump would make it more difficult for immigrants to enter the country illegally. Gray, who voted straight party Republican, also said he wants to see more fiscal responsibility from a president.

In Johnson County, the Auditor's Office reports more than 22 percent of the county's 92,138 registered voters have gone to the polls today. Adding in the 40,922 ballots returned before Election Day, that percentage increases to more than 66 percent.

'We're just seeing really solid turnout,” said Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert, who reported a steady flow of voters at polling locations. 'We'll have the five o'clock rush when people head home from work.”

Johnson County officials have seen large numbers of day-of registrations in areas where University of Iowa students live. Weipert said 'that is very normal” because students often register after moving to Iowa City.

That is the case for Olivia Perez, 18, who said she was registered in her hometown of Des Moines but needed to register to vote while at school.

Perez said she thinks many of her friends at Iowa are doing the same because it's more convenient for busy college students.

Perez said she cast her vote for Donald Trump because she respects what he has to say, although some of it may be 'obnoxious” and she thinks he is a good businessman.

Nicole LaFleur, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student, had a different take on the election. She said she decided to vote for Hillary Clinton after the news she read or heard on the TV, the internet and in newspapers.

While LaFleur said she was already registered, she said she decided to vote day-of because her polling place was conveniently located in Petersen Hall, where she lives.

l Comments: (319) 339-3172; maddy.arnold@thegazette.com