While poll workers were reporting longer-than-normal lines for the general election Tuesday morning, the final numbers show turnout in Kosciusko County was actually down compared to past presidential general elections.
That seemed to work in Republicans’ favor as Donald Trump will become the 45th U.S. president, the GOP will lead in the Senate and House, and Republicans won all Indiana statewide races.
Voter turnout in Kosciusko County Tuesday was 60.89 percent, down from 62 percent in the 2012 general election when Democrat President Barack Obama faced Republican Mitt Romney.
Statistics on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website also show that Tuesday’s turnout was down compared to 63 percent in the 2008 general election when Obama beat Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain.
On perhaps a bright note, Tuesday’s turnout in Kosciusko County was up from 58 percent in 2004, when Republican President George W. Bush beat Democrat John Kerry for a second term, and up from 58 percent in 2000, when Bush beat Democrat Al Gore.
In nonpresidential election years, Kosciusko County voter turnout in the general election was 33 percent in 2014, 44 percent in 2010 and 39 percent in 2006, according to the website at in.gov/sos.
Voter turnout in Kosciusko County was 41 percent in the 2016 May primary, 25 percent in the 2012 primary, 35 percent in the 2008 primary and 21 percent in the 2004 primary, according to statistics from the Secretary of State’s website.
