Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

County tracks voters over last decade

COLUMBUS— Polk County voters have participated at least almost 50 percent turnout over the last decade for general elections. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners was recently presented its annual audit report for 2018-2019, which included statistical information. 

The county’s voter turnout for general elections, which are held on even years, has been as high as 72 percent and as low as 49 percent over the last 10 years. 

The county tracked voter turnout from 2010 until 2018. Odd years are municipal elections. 

Polk County’s voter turnout for the 2010 election was 58 percent; the 2012 election was 72 percent; the 2014 election was 49 percent; the 2016 election was 68 percent and the 2018 election was 58 percent. 

The highest percentages came during presidential elections in 2012 and 2016, while the lowest percentages came during the non-presidential elections. 

The 2020 election will have a primary on March 3 for a presidential candidate; U.S. Senate; N.C. Governor; N.C. Lieutenant Governor; N.C. Auditor; N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture; N.C. Commissioner of Insurance; N.C. Commissioner of Labor; N.C. Secretary of State; N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction; N.C. Treasurer; N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Seat 01; N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 02; N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Seat 04; N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Seat 05; N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Seat 06; N.C. State Senate District 47; N.C. House of Representatives District 113; N.C. District Court Judge District 29B Seat 01; N.C. District Court Judge District 29B Seat 02; N.C. District Court Judge District 29B Seat 03 and N.C. District Court Judge District 29B Seat 04. 

There will be no primary for local races, including for three seats on the county board of commissioners, the school board or register of deeds. 

Candidates for the three seats open on the board of commissioners include incumbents Ray Gasperson (D) and Myron Yoder and David Moore (R), who was appointed last year to fill an unexpired term and newcomer Andre Overholt (R). 

Polk County Register of Deeds Sheila Whitmire (R) is running unopposed and there are also no opposed seats for the Polk County School Board. 

Early voting for the March 3 primary will be from Feb. 13-Feb. 29 at the Polk County Board of Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus. Early voting will be from 8 a.m. -7:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays and 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturdays. 

The 2020 general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 

 

Polk County General election voter turnout 

2010: 58 percent

2012: 72 percent

2014: 49 percent

2016: 68 percent

2018: 58 percent