Maries County voters show interest in presidential politics by good turnout at last Tuesday’s election

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 3/18/20

Maries County voters were more interested in last Tuesday’s Presidential Preference Primary than many people thought and the county’s overall 21.66 percent voter turnout proved …

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Maries County voters show interest in presidential politics by good turnout at last Tuesday’s election

Posted

Maries County voters were more interested in last Tuesday’s Presidential Preference Primary than many people thought and the county’s overall 21.66 percent voter turnout proved it.

Initially, Maries County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers thought voter turnout would be under 20 percent based on the number of absentee ballots cast before the election. There were 61 absentee ballots voted, which indicated to Rodgers a low voter turnout. The Brinktown Precinct had the highest voter turnout than any other in the county with 73 of the precincts 301 voters or 24.25 percent making the trip to the polls.

On election night, The Advocate was at the courthouse when all of the precincts were brought in by the election judges.

Vienna Precinct

Election judges Liz Rowden and John Viessman were the first of the poll workers to bring the precinct’s ballots and information to the county clerk at 7:15 p.m. Rowden said there were more voters than they thought there would be as 301 of the precinct’s 1,459 voters or 20.63 percent came to vote.

There were 140 Republican ballots cast with President Donald Trump receiving 139 of them.

There were 161 Democratic ballots votes. Joseph Biden was the top vote getter at 102 followed by Bernie Sanders 44, Tulsi Gabbard three, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren, all with two, and Andrew Yang with one. There were four uncommitted votes.

A poll worker was missed. Sylvester Buschmann, a 40-year veteran of working the Vienna Precinct, is now a resident of Maries Manor. The county clerk’s office had The Flower Basket prepare a special treat for him with a coffee cup filled with candy, an American flag and an “I Voted” sticker.

Vichy Precinct

The Vichy Precinct was the second to report to the courthouse on election night at 7:25 p.m. Poll workers Kim Robison and Trish Drewel reported a good turnout as 120 of the precinct’s 558 voters or 21.51 percent made the trip to the polls.

Some 89 voters chose a Republican ballot and President Trump received 88 votes and there was one uncommitted voter.

There were 31 Democratic ballots voted. Joseph Biden received 17 votes followed by Bernie Sanders with 11 votes. Tulsi Gabbard received one vote as did Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg.

Hodgeville Precinct

At 7:29 p.m. the Hodgeville Precinct was brought to the courthouse by poll workers Audrey Fisher and Connie Feeler. Hodgeville had a 20.90 percent voter turnout as 56 of the precinct’s 268 voters came to vote.

The Republican ballot was chosen by 39 voters with 38 voting for President Trump and one voting for Joe Walsh.

There were 17 Democratic ballots voted with Bernie Sanders receiving the most votes with 10, followed by Joseph Biden with 7.

Hayden Heights

Hayden Heights arrived soon after at 7:34 p.m., brought by poll workers Jerry Fritchey and Dale Copeland. Copeland said they had a good day. There were 85 of the precinct’s 466 registered voters or 18.24 percent who came out to vote.

There were 62 Republican ballots cast with President Trump receiving 59 votes and there were two uncommitted Republican voters.

There were 23 Democratic ballots voted with Joseph Biden sweeping the field with 17 votes, followed by Bernie Sanders with four and Leonard J. Steinman II with one. There was one uncommitted voter.

Fritchey and Copeland said Vienna High School student, Dawson Wansing, was really good and they enjoyed his help as a poll workers. Rodgers said she badly needed poll workers and contacted the high school and Wansing said he would do it.

Mason Ridge

Mason Ridge arrived at 7:40 p.m. with the precinct’s ballots and information brought by poll workers Wilma Stephen and Carol Bremer. There were 81 ballots or 18.88 percent voted at Mason Ridge.

There were 37 Republican ballots voted with President Trump receiving 36 votes and Bill Weld receiving one vote.

There were 44 Democratic ballots voted with Joseph Biden receiving 32 votes, Bernie Sanders 11 votes, and Deval Patrick one vote.

Safe Precinct

The Safe Precinct arrived at 7:45 p.m. by poll workers Ruth Allen and Carolyn Lake. There were 55 ballots voted or 20.30 percent at the March 10 election.

There were 55 Republican ballots voted with President Trump receiving 54 votes and Joe Walsh received one vote.

There were 25 Democratic ballots cast with Joseph Biden receiving 13 votes, followed by Bernie Sanders with 11 votes. There was one uncommitted voter.

Brinktown Precinct

Kenneth Moore and Gilbert Rollins arrived at the courthouse at 7:50 p.m. with the Brinktown Precinct’s ballots and information. They said they had a good day. Brinktown had the highest voter turnout in the county at 24.25 percent or 73 of the precinct’s 301 voters coming out to participate in the Democracy by voting.

There were 34 Republican votes cast and President Trump received all of them.

There were 39 Democratic ballots voted. Joseph Biden received 24 votes, Bernie Sanders received 10, Pete Buttigieg received two, and Amy Klobuchar, Tom Styer, and Tulsi Gabbard each received one vote.

Santee Precinct

The Santee Precinct arrived at the courthouse at about 7:55 p.m. on the heels of the Brinktown Precinct, brought by poll workers Steve Casper and Randy Ray. The precinct had 70 voters on Tuesday out of the precinct’s 370 registered voters, for a turnout of 18.92 percent.

There were 50 Republican ballots cast and President Trump received all of the votes.

There were 20 Democratic ballots voted with Joseph Biden receiving 14 votes and Bernie Sanders received six votes.

Belle Precinct

The Belle Precinct arrived soon after at 8 p.m., brought by poll workers Janet Kottwitz and Chris Keeney and chauffeured by Gene Kottwitz. The poll workers said they were “super busy” at times but they were very pleasant and visited with Rodgers like they were all old friends, and probably they are. There were 391 of the precinct’s 1,839 voters or 21.26 percent who voted at last Tuesday’s election, which is the highest number of voters to vote in any county precinct, but not the highest percentage turnout.

There were 227 Republican ballots voted with President Trump receiving 223 of them. Bill Weld received one vote as did Joe Walsh. There were two uncommitted Republican voters.

There were 163 Democratic ballots voted with Joseph Biden receiving 96 votes, Bernie Sanders received 62 votes, Elizabeth Warren two votes, Michael Bloomberg one vote, and two uncommitted votes.

On the Libertarian ballot, Jacob Hornberger received one vote in the Belle Precinct.

Absentee Ballots

There were 61 absentee ballots voted.

There were 27 Republican ballots cast with President Trump receiving 26 votes and there was one uncommitted Republican voter.

There were 34 Democratic ballots voted with Joseph Biden receiving 21 votes, Bernie Sanders received seven, Michael Bloomberg received three, Elizabeth Warren two, and Tom Steyer received one vote.