Boone County voter turnout comes in lower than expected on Election Day
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone County is seeing low voter turnout on Tuesday for the municipal elections.
Voter turnout is about 8% for in-person ballots, which is expected to rise a little more as election officials count the remaining ballots and absentee ballots as well, Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said in an interview Tuesday, about an hour before polls closed.
Tuesday morning, Lennon predicted about 12% of voters would cast ballots. She said there a couple reasons why the actual number didn't meet expectations.
"I think every April election is a little unique because of the local races that are going to be on it," Lennon said. "For this particular one, there's just fewer items on the ballot, it's not drawing as much attention, I think, for voters, and so it's hard to kind of break through everything else."
Lennon posted on X at 10 a.m. that voter turnout was 2.5% for the first four hours the polls were open. Lennon later updated the post, noting voter turnout was 4.3% around 1 p.m.
She updated voter turnout numbers again at 4 p.m. About 6.3% of registered voters have cast a ballot with only a few hours left until polls close at 7 p.m.
Lennon told ABC 17 News on Monday that she expected about 12% of registered voters to turn out for the local election, which includes school board and city council races. She said there are about 121,000 Boone County voters registered for the April election, although one part of the county doesn't have an election.
Tuesday morning, Lennon said her office had received fewer than 1,000 absentee ballots, which laid the groundwork for turnout on Election Day.
As of 4pm, turnout in Boone County is now at 6.3% (including Election Day voters and in-person absentee voters). Polls are open until 7pm 🗳️ https://t.co/RtnGg1vo2n
— Boone County Clerk (@voteboonemo) April 7, 2026
The April 2024 election saw 16.37% voter turnout, and the April 2025 mayoral election had 25.23% voter turnout. Some Boone County and Columbia voters will decide who gets to sit on the City Council.
Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman is running for reelection, and newcomer Christina Hartman is running against him.
"I hope Christina wins for the Fifth Ward," voter Traci Wilson-Kleekamp said. "I think she's forward thinking, and a critical thinker and is engaged in the idea that we need change."
Voter William Bliss said he likes the incumbent, Waterman.
"I think our incumbent alderman has been doing pretty well, so I don't have any issues there," Bliss said.
Another Boone County voter Becky Ulm chose not to share how she voted, but she said local elections are vital.
"Well, every election is important," Ulm said. "It helps run our community and decides what is going to happen next."
Some Columbia voters will also get to decide who will sit on the Columbia Board of Education, and Ulm said her vote directly affects her grandson.
"His future depends on what happens in the school system," Ulm said. "School education is what is important to these kids' future and the community."
Boone County voters can visit the Boone County Clerk's website to find voter information and polling locations.
For more information about Boone County ballot issues, the Columbia Board of Education race or the Columbia City Council Ward 5 race, visit ABC 17's Voter Guide.
