Cole County reports 25% voter turnout on Election Day morning
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Cole County had already recorded more than 13,000 votes by Tuesday morning, with election officials estimating voter turnout could reach between 40% and 55% by the end of Election Day.
The Cole County ballot includes state and local races and issues. Across Missouri, voters will decide on four proposed constitutional amendments addressing abortion, initiative petitions, state taxes, county sheriff elections and a proposition over congressional boundaries.
Jefferson City voters will also decide whether to increase the city’s sales tax for public safety agencies from a quarter-cent to a half-cent.
For a seat in the Capitol, Republican Jake Vogel is facing Democrat J. Don Salcedo for the Missouri Senate District 6 seat. Republican Carrie Tergin and Democrat Becky Kroll are competing for the Missouri House District 59 seat, while Republican Shane Kampeter and Democrat Suzanne Luther are vying for the District 60 seat.
Most Cole County elected positions are uncontested. The exception is the race for presiding commissioner, where Republican Mike Bernskoetter is facing independent Chuck Steck.
Matt Musselman, Cole County’s director of elections, reported 5,078 absentee ballots and 8,250 Election Day check-ins as of Tuesday morning, for a combined total of 13,328 voters.
That represents approximately 25% voter turnout, Musselman said. He estimated turnout could reach 55% by the end of Election Day. Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer has projected a 40% turnout.
“We’ll probably fall somewhere in the middle,” Korsmeyer said.
Cole County has approximately 55,000 registered voters and nearly 30 polling locations.
In the Aug. 4 primary election, Cole County recorded 43.74% voter turnout, with 23,980 people casting ballots.
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