Views from the Linn County Auditor

642 out of 137,297

Today, the counter was busy with absentee voters - the most of any day thus far.  As of 7:20pm, 642 absentee ballots have been received.   We're awaiting the return of 103 absentee ballots, i.e., we mailed out 330, but only 227 have been returned. 

Hopefully, everyone who requested an absentee ballot will get them mailed back to us.  They must be postmarked no later than July 23rd or hand delivered to the Auditor's office on election day.  If you show up at your precinct on election day with an unused absentee ballot, you can surrender that absentee ballot and receive another ballot that can be used at the precinct.

We have 137,297 registered voters in Linn County.  I'm predicting a 9-10% turnout, which would be about equal to the number of electors who signed the petition ordering this election.  What's your prediction?

Here's some voter demographics  --Joel @ 7:55pm

Linn County Voter Registration
Demographics - 07/19/07
Gender	Age	# Registered	% Registered
Male	18-35	20,876	15%
Female	18-35	23,042	17%
Male	36-55	25,001	18%
Female	36-55	26,663	19%
Male	56+	18,683	14%
Female	56+	23,032	17%
Totals		137,297	100%

Election Day Schools of Instruction

Sue Wold, Deputy Commissioner of Elections, reviews election day instructions with precinct election officials. This is the first of three schools held today.

Today, we’re hosting three schools of instruction for the election.

Each of the chair persons for the 86 precincts (or their representative) attends a school to receive their final instructions for the election.

Wold reviews touch screen machines with precinct workers.

The schools last about an hour.

The first was at 10am (see photo) and the second at 2pm (see photo).  The final one is scheduled for 5:30pm.  --Joel @ 3:34pm

Let the interviews begin

Scott Westerberg, a reporter with KWWL-TV, interviews me about the election. Barring any breaking stories, it may appear on the5 p.m. newscast.

When I was elected to this position, I don’t think I realized just how often I’d be interviewed on camera, on the radio, and by the newspapers.

Over lunch I had my first on camera interview related to this election (see photo).

I have another scheduled for Monday, July 23^rd, over the noon hour.  --Joel @ 3:48pm