Jasper County voters made clear Tuesday just how important the 2020 General Election was to them and set a record at the same time.
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 dilemma, voters across the county turned out in great numbers to cast ballots on election day and prior in what has been tabbed an historic election. Nearly 70 percent of registered voters in the county cast ballots during the election. In all, 8,465 voting cards were cast on election day out of 12,190 possible registered voters. Absentee ballot requests almost doubled a previous Presidential race, which set a new high number for the county in that category.
“The most requests we have ever had for absentee ballots was 998 during the 2012 Presidential race. In this election, we received a record number 1,916 absentee requests,” explained Jasper County Circuit Clerk Billy Rayner. “I am very pleased with the way voters turned out in our county. Exercising your right to vote is important in any election.”
Rayner went on to say the election process went relatively straightforward in the county Tuesday, other than a few problems that can be expected on any election day. COVID-19 safety precautions were taken at every voting precinct in the county with hand sanitizing stations, social distancing, and other measures, which did not negatively affect the voting process.
“Everything went really smooth except for a few ‘bumps and bruises’ early that we had to figure out. The Election Commissioners and poll workers really did a fantastic job,” he said.