Wed. Nov 6th, 2024

Nearly 74% of eligible Iowans voted in the 2024 presidential election according to unofficial numbers from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

About 74% of Iowa’s voting age population cast ballots in the 2024 general election, according to preliminary numbers from Iowa’s Secretary of State office as of 12:34 p.m. Wednesday. 

Story County had only partially reported its votes, meaning ballots from 12 precincts had not yet been tabulated.

The delay in votes in Story County was a result of several failed voting machines in the county, which meant poll workers had to hand count ballots at about 12 precincts.

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A statement from the Secretary of State’s office from Tuesday night said, “It may impact how quickly we can report the results.” 

Absentee ballots 

Iowans returned 680,297 of the 693,9986 absentee ballots that were issued, according to according to a 7 a.m. Wednesday report from the Secretary of State’s office.

Consistent with reporting from early Tuesday, Democrats requested, and returned, more absentee ballots than Republicans in three of the state’s four congressional districts. 

The voter turnout for this election is consistent with that of past general elections in Iowa, which is typically around 70%, although it jumped to 76% in the 2020 presidential election. 

chart visualization

According to the unofficial results, 216,000 more Iowans voted Republican in the presidential race. 

Iowa voters on Election Day said they came out to vote as part of their “civic duty,” even if it meant waiting in excess of an hour at some polling locations. 

Ginger Dreifurst of Des Moines’ south side said she had been looking forward to casting a ballot in the election.

“I voted because it’s not only my right but my responsibility,” adding that while she didn’t want to say who she supported, it was a decision made years ago. “Government is bigger than any single person,” she said, “so I suppose for me this came down to supporting the person who upholds my moral values.”   

The counties will certify their results at their canvasses, either Tuesday or Wednesday next week and the State will certify results, and other voter data, on Dec. 2. 

Clark Kaufmann contributed to this report.

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