41 pct. of Cedar County ballots have already been returned

HARTINGTON — Cedar County residents want to make sure their voices are heard.

As of Monday, 2398 or 41 percent of the 5,780 ballots either mailed out or handed out here have already come back to the Cedar County Clerk’s office.

That voter turn-out percentage is already better than some primary elections we’ve had here, said Cedar County Clerk Dave Dowling.

Dowling said he expects to go over the 50 percent mark early this week.

The most popular way to return the ballots has been through the mail, Dowling said. Dowling said 1437 have been mailed in, while 672 ballots have been hand-delivered to the office and 289 ballots have been placed in the drop box near the north entrance of the Cedar County Courthouse.

Since 1986, Cedar County has averaged a 71 percent voter turn-out for Presidential elections, Dowling said.

At this rate, it appears the county’s record for voter turn-out could fall.

In 2016, a record 75 percent of Cedar County registered voters cast ballots in 2016 General Election. The next highest voter turn-out ever recorded here was back in 1992 when 74 percent of the electorate voted.

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