County Certifies Election

— Almost 71,000 Washington County voters, or 2,141 more people, cast their ballots this month compared to 2008’s presidential election.

The county Election Commission certified this month’s presidential election Tuesday.

Despite the voter increase, 66 percent of the county’s registered voters cast their ballots compared to 68 percent four years ago, according to certified results.

“It’s still consistent with Washington County's participation in presidential elections,” said John Logan Burrow, commission chairman.

By the Numbers

Voting Day

Presidential Elections 2012 2008

Registered voters 107,207 100,243

Ballots cast 70,932 68,791

Voter turnout 66 percent 68 percent

Early votes 25,423 24,722

Source: Staff report

More than 90 of the county’s military voters and other civilians living overseas requested absentee ballots this year be delivered via email compared to 16 requests for November 2010’s general election, Jennifer Price, election coordinator, said after the meeting.

Voters mailed back 61 ballots of the 94 requests this year from continents including Asia, Europe, Australia and South America, she said. In 2010, nine people returned emailed ballots, she said.

In 2009, Congress passed the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. Price said the 2010’s general election was the first time people could request ballot delivery via email instead of regularly mailed absentee ballots.

The county sent away 1,631 absentee ballots, including those emailed, this year compared to 716 two years ago, she said.

She expects more people to request online ballot delivery in 2014’s general election, she said.

More than 25,400 people traveled to Fayetteville or Springdale to vote early, Price said. Becky Lewallen, newly elected county clerk, said she would like to open an early voting polling location in Prairie Grove in 2014.

“The governor’s election is in two years and for sure by the next presidential election. Some people don't want to drive from Lincoln and vote early,” she said. “It would make the turnout on election day smaller and less phone calls.”

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