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Voter turnout tops 60 percent in mid-term election
by Rick DeClue · News · November 13, 2014
Voter turnout in both the West Branch 1 and Gower/Springdale precincts topped 60.4 percent last Tuesday, more than the state turnout estimated at 50.6 percent and substantially higher than the preliminary 36.6 percent national figure.
If it holds, the national figure represents the lowest mid-term turnout since 1942, according to PBS News Hour.
The West Branch precinct was carved out of the Gower/Springdale precinct prior to the 2012 election.
West Branch remains a Democratic stronghold, with Democratic voter registration running approximately two to one, said Wayne Frauenholtz, who is the Republican precinct leader in West Branch.
Frauenholtz was pleased with the local turnout, and noted that Republicans showed strength in Cedar County.
Republican Bobby Kaufmann won 71.8 percent of the vote in Cedar County to continue to represent State District 73. That compares to 67.7 percent across the entire district, which includes parts of Johnson and Muscatine counties, and 53.5 percent in West Branch 1.
“Bobby succeeds solely on his hard work,” said Frauenholtz.
He added that Republican Gov. Terry Brandstad also fared well in his re-election, “because the state’s bills are paid, unemployment is low and Iowa is going in a direction the whole country could be going.”
The Brandstad/Lisa Reynolds ticket received 59.0 percent statewide, 63.2 percent in Cedar County and 45.7 percent in West Branch.
Iowa was one of only seven states to exceed 50 percent turnout. Its turnout also grew from the 2010 mid-term turnout of 49.9 percent, though 36 states showed a lower turnout than four years ago.
In keeping with the pattern of lower turnout in off-year elections, 23 percent fewer voters cast a ballot in the West Branch 1 and Gower/Springdale precincts than in the 2012 presidential election year. This local mid-term falloff was similar for Cedar County and Iowa, though both exceeded 2010 turnout, the most recent mid-term election.
Mike Owen, director of the Iowa Policy Project and West Branch resident, said that he did not see that turnout or the election results would change the course in Des Moines.
His group is focused on non-partisan efforts to affect policy for the state.
“The issues didn’t change,” he said. “The structure remains pretty much the same with a Republican governor and a level of Republican control of the legislature.”
Owen cited issues such as spending money through tax credits and loopholes for corporations working against things like infrastructure and education, a restrictive child care system making it difficult for low- income residents to improve their lives, and an increase in the state’s minimum wage.
He noted that consideration of raising the minimum wage may be a surprise for some people, “but it is happening in states around us – like South Dakota and Nebraska.”
“There’s the possibility that Iowa might come to be seen not so much an island as under water on this issue,” he said.
Neither Frauenholtz nor Owen said they felt able to comment on the U.S. Senate race between Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Bruce Braley from a voter-turnout perspective.
Ernst received 54.9 percent and 52.2 percent, respectively, of the Cedar County and statewide vote, versus 45.7 per cent in West Branch.
West Branch City Administrator Matt Muckler said he was pleased to see the city’s turnout more than 60 percent.
“The numbers are pretty consistent with what we have seen in the past,” he said,”around 350 to 450 votes in city elections, 900 or so for mid-term votes and 1,200 for presidential years.”
Muckler said the subject of turnout had come up in conversations with Mayor Mark Worrell since the election. He said the Mayor was very excited that citizens responded to the opportunity to be heard.
As for where the city goes on its parks efforts after the extension of the Local Option Sales Tax passed and the city’s proposed $4 million bond to support park development came up 25 votes short of the 60 percent required, Muckler said he is looking forward to the Nov. 20 meeting of the Parks and Recreational Board.
“We have to wait and see where the Board and the City Council want to go next on parks,” he said.
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