Turnout low for election rescheduled because of COVID-19

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said Tuesday that voting has been slow at the Boone County Government Building. 

Lennon said she expected a slow day -- with just over five hours left to vote turnout was at 4 percent with about 5,000 votes cast.

Tuesday's election is the rescheduled April municipal election, with city council races, board of aldermen races and school board races across the country.

Lennon said the Boone Count Clerk’s Office had absentee balloting open from the end of February through Monday at 5 p.m. By Friday evening, 4,685 ballots had been cast compared to less than 1,000 in the April 2019 election, Lennon said last week.

Polls are open until 7 p.m.

“We're in the process of processing the ones that have been returned to our office,” Lenon said. “And if anyone does still have their absentee ballot they can drop it off at our office by 7 p.m. today.”

The Boone County Clerk’s Office has many COVID-19 precautions in place for the Tuesday election.

Masks and face shields are provided for election judges, plexiglass shields are in place so that voters and election judges have some distance between them and hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are at the polling places and frequently touched areas as well.

Lennon said the clerk’s office is trying to keep voters 6 feet apart in polling booths as well.

Lennon said voters are allowed to bring in their own pens and wear their own masks.

Lennon said it is important for voters to check polling place assignments as some changes were made because of the rescheduling of the election and COVID-19 concerns.

Stay up-to-date on this developing story here and on ABC 17 News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.