Sun staff
Voter turnout in Clermont County for the Nov. 3 election reached 42.02 percent, the highest the county has seen since the 2012 presidential election.
The three state issues on this elections ballot, along with good weather, brought higher than expected turnout, which was the same as the state average, at the polls, Clermont County Board of Elections Director Judy Miller said.
The state ballot issues were Issue 1, which creates a bipartisan process to draw legislative districts, Issue 2, which restricts the initiative process to change the state constitution, and Issue 3, which would have legalized medicinal and recreational marijuana use.
Miller said she and her team were surprised by the high turnout on Election Day.
“Originally, we had anticipated a turnout close to that of the election in 2009, when the gambling initiative was on the ballot. That year saw 50 percent voter turnout,” Miller said. “But, when the absentee votes started coming in at a rate of 28 percent, we were concerned. Then, all of the sudden, on Election Day, we got deluged with phone calls. Hundreds and hundreds of voters were calling to ask questions about polling locations and such. The phone didn’t quit ringing all day.”
Kathy Rose, who was the voting location manager at the Bethel-Tate Middle School polling location, has worked at the polls for many years.
“The voter turnout today has been very heavy,” Rose said. “Compared to other years, it’s high.”
She added, “We thought people were turning out to vote for the marijuana bill, but as it turns out, they were voting against it.”
Bethel resident Patricia Dempsey, who said she hasn’t voted in four years, voted this year because she wanted to vote against Issue 3.
Donna Shouse, of Tate Township, described herself as a frequent voter.
“I think everybody should vote,” Shouse said.
This election, new electronic poll books and ballot readers were used county-wide for the first time.
Miller said the county should be proud of the polling election officials, formally known as poll workers.
“I commend those people,” Miller said. “It wasn’t easy, with the brand new equipment, but they did a fabulous job out there. It was slow on the upstart on the polling books, but once they got going, they did an excellent job.”
She added, “I couldn’t be more pleased with their performance.”
Rose said there were no problems reported at the polling location she was managing.
“We’re just dealing with the new tablet and all that good stuff, all the electronics,” she said.
Kay Deininger, voting location manager at Pierce Township Hall, said she likes the new equipment.
“It definitely expedites signing in,” said Deininger.
Reginald Smith, a resident of Union Township, said that the new equipment was satisfactory and user friendly.
Mary Ferguson, a resident of Union Township, thinks the new equipment is great and a good addition.
A representative from the office of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted called Miller to applaud the Clermont County Board of Elections staff, board and polling election officials.
“They commended us on a job well done, because we submitted an early return,” Miller said. “We submitted our returns at 10:11 p.m.”
Certified election results will be available Nov. 24. For more information about this year’s election, visit the Clermont County Board of Elections website at www.clermontelections.org.