Election Day 2018 saw high voter turnout locally and across the state.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon announced that preliminary estimates indicate that at least 2,593,922 voters participated either in-person or by absentee ballot, representing a 63.82 percent participation rate. That is the highest percentage of voter participation in Minnesota for a midterm election since 2002 and the largest raw total for a midterm election in Minnesota history.

“Minnesota elections are a model for the nation,” Simon said in a press release. “Not only do Minnesotans value civic engagement, but you have demanded from your government a voting system that makes it as easy as possible for Minnesotans to exercise their voice and power at the polls. Whether or not our participation rate this year means we will maintain our No. 1 in the nation status, I will always consider you the best voters in our great country.”

Minnesota statute requires that Minnesota counties perform a post-election review of election results returned by the optical scan ballot counters used in the state after every general election.  The review is a hand count of the ballots in the selected precincts compared with the results from the voting system used in those precincts.

According to Mower County Auditor/Treasurer Steve Reinartz, 14,603 ballots were cast in Mower County, a 73.5 percent participation rate among registered county voters.

“This year was higher than a normal off year,” he said, noting that 11,970 ballots were cast in 2014.

Reinartz also said that the number of absentee ballots returned to his office in this year’s election was 2,387, roughly 2.4 times more than in 2014.

The City of Austin also saw an increase in voter participation, according to Austin City Clerk Ann Kasel.

“Overall, I think this was a much higher turnout (than 2014),” she said.

As of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, there were 11,398 registered voters in Austin. According to Kasel, 6,525 registered voters, or 57.24 percent of registered voters, came to the polls on Election Day. While that number is lower than 2014, when approximately 60 percent of registered voters went to the polls, Kasel attributed that to more people voting absentee.

“Some of the busier precincts in past elections were not as busy this year,” she said.

The city is still awaiting the final numbers of absentee ballots cast. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, 7,416 voters cast a ballot in the Council Member At-Large race, the only citywide race that did not allow voters to select more than one candidate. That would indicate that 891 people voted absentee in Austin, though that number cannot be confirmed at this time.

At the canvass of the state general election, county canvassing boards must randomly select precincts to be reviewed and notify the Secretary of State. Reinartz said the county will hold its canvass on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Election results are not official until they have been reviewed and certified by a canvassing board.

2018 Election Results

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Adams

Council Member (Elect 2)

• Paul Kirtz: 292, 57.25 percent
• Michael Cherney: 182, 35.69 percent
• Write-in: 36

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Bennington Township

Town supervisor Seat A

• Brad Davis: 60, 100 percent

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Brownsdale

Mayor

• Jeff Foster: 269, 92.12 percent
• Write-in: 23

Council member (elect 2)

• Jessica Bakken: 179, 35.52 percent
• Debra Schuette: 176, 34.92 percent
• Jan Ball: 145
• Write in: 4

Council member-Special election

• Rick Smith: 158, 53.92 percent
• Ardis Jensen: 130
• Write-in: 5

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Dexter

Mayor

• Justin Forthun: 140, 95.24 percent
• Write-in: 7

Council member (elect 2)

• Karnette Unverzagt: 123, 48.62 percent
• Tim Taylor: 122, 48.22 percent
• Write-in: 8

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Elkton

Mayor

• Sally Vietor: 50, 90.91 percent
• Write-in: 5

Council member (elect 2)

• James Crozier: 46, 47.42 percent
• Sarah Sprau-McKay: 42, 43.30 percent
• Write-in: 9.28

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Franford Township

Town Supervisor Seat B

• Diane Benson: 171, 100 percent

Town Treasurer

• Craig Goodsell: 167, 100 percent

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Grand Meadow

Mayor

• Sandra Fenton: 398, 92.99 percent
• Write-in: 30

Council member (elect 2)

• Kim Hill: 322, 50.23 percent
• Tony Warmka: 286, 44.62 percent
• Write-in: 8

Special election for council member

• Carolyn Sween: 426, 98.16 percent
• Write-in: 8

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Grand Meadow Township

Town Supervisor Seat B

• James T. Jacobsen: 116, 100 percent

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LeRoy

Mayor

• Brian Thiel: 334 percent, 89.30 percent
• Write-in: 40

Council member (elect 2)

• Ashley Huntley: 231, 31.64 percent
• Gene Miller: 224, 30.68 percent
• Georgena Bird: 135
• Daisie Fox: 130
• Write-in: 10

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Lyle

Mayor

• Gary Harrison: 172, 83.09 percent
• Rick B. Matter: 31
• Write-in: 4

Council member (elect 2)

• Betty Fisher: 159, 50.32 percent
• Patrick James Branchaud: 147
• Write-in: 10

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Mapleview

Mayor

• Arnie Johnson: 31, 55.36 percent
• Larry Naatz: 25
• Write-in: 0

Council member (elect 2)

• Michael Langstaff: 37, 40.22 percent
• Kristine Finley: 34
• Write-in: 21

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Racine

Mayor

• Deri Nordsving: 166, 97.08 percent
• Write-in: 5

Council member (elect 2)

• Harla Nelson: 152, 52.78 percent
• John Renn: 135
• Write-in: 1

Special election for council member

• Jason Vaith: 172, 98.85 percent
• Write-in: 1

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Look for more  election results from the area in Saturday’s Austin Daily Herald