More than a quarter of registered voters cast their ballots in the Minnesota 2018 primary election in Fillmore County on August 14. Interest was significantly higher than normal possibly in part due to the fact that a new governor will be elected in November and two U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot. Also, the U.S. House First Congressional District seat is open without an incumbent.
Or, it may be that enthusiasm is driven by strong feelings over the current executive in the White House. Over 52% (1,474) of Fillmore County primary voters voted on the DFL ballot, while nearly 46% (1,291) voted on the Republican ballot.
This reporter was asked to observe and report on the returns while they came in by Edison Research. Edison conducts market research and provides exit polling and tabulates results across every county for ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and NBC News.
Employees in the auditor/treasurer’s office worked efficiently receiving reports from the individual precincts. At least two judges from each of the precincts came in with the precinct’s paper ballots and a flash drive with the vote count for their precinct. The first precinct reported at about 8:30 p.m. and the last just a little over one hour later. Judges were asked about the new “poll pads” that were being tested. The poll pads were used in some precincts in place of the paper registration lists that have been used in the past.
County coordinator Bobbie Vickerman noted that the county has an $18,000 grant that may be used to buy poll pads, if the test went well. Judges generally had positive things to say about the poll pads.
Carrie Huffman provided data on mail ballot comparisons from 2016 to 2018. Three cities and five townships have passed resolutions for mail-in only balloting. In 2016 (presidential election year) there were 1372 total registered voters in these eight precincts; 121 voted. In 2018 there are 1,354 registered voters in the eight mail-in only precincts; 384 voted. Even with a lower number of total registered voters in the eight precincts, there was an increase in voter turnout of 263. Only precincts with less than 400 registered voters qualify for the mail in only process.
Fillmore County has 37 precincts. Eight of them use mail-in only balloting.
Absentee ballots are available 46 days prior to state primary or state general elections. Registered voters may opt to vote by absentee ballot in person at the Fillmore County Auditor/Treasurer’s office beginning 46 days before the election day.
Fillmore County, in most cases, voted for the primary winners statewide. There were two exceptions in the Republican primaries. Fillmore County voters favored Bob Anderson for U.S. Senator (two-year term) over the state wide winner, Karin Housley. Fillmore County favored Sharon Anderson for Attorney General over the statewide winner Doug Wardlow.
The general election will be held on November 6.
DFLers Tim Walz/Peggy Flanagan will face off against GOP’s Jeff Johnson/Donna Bergstrom for governor and lieutenant governor. DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar will defend her senate seat against GOP’s Jim Newberger. DFL Senator Tina Smith will face off against GOP’s Karin Housley for the remaining two years of Al Franken’s senate term.
DFLer Dan Feehan will face off against GOP’s Jim Hagedorn for the U.S. Representative, District 1 seat. DFLer Keith Ellison will face off against GOP’s Doug Wardlow for Attorney General.
Fillmore County primary voters voted on one local non-partisan race. Heidi “Bly” Jones will face Brian Hoff for auditor/treasurer in November.