Tuesday’s voter turnout appears to set record for Butler County
The number of voters in Tuesday’s presidential election appears to have set a record in Butler County.
With 121,000 total ballots cast in the election — in which former President Donald Trump reclaimed the White House and Republicans wrested majority control of the U.S. Senate from Democrats — the vote total exceeded the 113,899 votes cast in the 2020 election. Trump lost the 2020 race to President Joe Biden even though county voters overwhelmingly supported Trump.
Tuesday’s total includes 89,815 votes cast on Election Day and 31,185 mail-in and absentee ballots, according to unofficial results from the Butler County Bureau of Elections.
The bureau also reported that 145,722 people were registered to vote Tuesday, and the 121,000 votes represents a turnout of 83.03%. The number of registered voters and the turnout also are apparent record setters.
In 2020, 143,205 voters were registered on Election Day, and the 113,899 votes represent a 79.54% turnout.
However, the bureau added a note to Tuesday’s results saying 31,722 mail-in and absentee ballots were received by 8 p.m. and that provisional ballots have not yet been counted.
Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the county commissioners, who also serves on the Election Board, said she believes Tuesday’s turnout set a county record.
“No surprise,” Osche said. “There was an incredible push, especially by Republicans, to vote early and get out the vote. Considering our population increase and the voter registration drives, it all adds up.”
She said election judges and poll workers were excited about the high turnout when they returned to the bureau with the ballots Tuesday night.
There were some minor issues Tuesday such as questions about rules for people standing outside the polls, she said.
Osche said mail-in counting went smoothly and was finished by 8 p.m., and rest of ballots were counted by 11 p.m.
Commissioner Kim Geyer commended bureau director Chantell McCurdy, her staff and poll workers “who delivered an election without flaw, early, and safely.”
She said she believes the county was the first county to submit its votes to the state.
Everyone was amazed by the number of first time and younger voters, Geyer said.
