Jasper County Auditor’s Office reports a 75% voter turnout

More than 20,000 Jasper County voters participated in the 2024 general election, resulting in a 75.27 percent voter turnout. According to data from the Jasper County Auditor’s Office, this most recent election actually drew the most voters, by number, than the past presidential elections in 2020 and 2016.

In total, 20,305 out of 26,975 registered voters in Jasper County cast their ballots in the 2024 election. In 2020, 20,289 out of 25,656 registered voters participated in the election, a turnout of 79.07 percent; in 2016, 19,221 out of 24,601 registered voters participated in the election, a turnout of 78.13 percent.

Although the overall turnout this year is lower than in years past, there are more registered voters in Jasper County, and more of them are getting out to vote.

Jasper County Auditor Jenna Jennings said the increase in voter participation was noticeable early on in this election cycle. Early voting started on Oct. 16, and that first day drew 630 voters to the auditor’s office. The next day resulted in 569 voters. The auditor’s office averaged 320 early voters per day.

“Then the very last day, which was Monday of this week (Nov. 4), we did 660 people that day,” Jennings said. “So that was our highest … We’ve never seen lines as long as they were in the courthouse. On the last day at 4 o’clock, they went out the door, down the steps and they were through the first floor waiting.”

As the commissioner of elections in Jasper County, it is exciting for Jennings to see so many people participate. Every auditor wants to get as close to 100 percent participation as they can. It is a lot of work for the auditor’s office staff, and they like to see their efforts rewarded with high numbers.

For Jennings, this was her presidential election as county auditor. Compared to her first local election as county auditor last year, the main difference is the amount of people. Typically, local elections have much lower turnouts, but yet there seems to be a lot more work that goes into those types of elections.

“You’re dealing with all the cities and all the schools and crossing districts. It just seems like there is a lot more preparation that goes into that and getting your ballots ready and making sure you’re not missing somebody,” Jennings said. “This year, it’s still a lot of work, but it’s more the people you’re seeing.”

To see more people are voting in Jasper County is gratifying for Jennings. It is important for people to vote, she said. Her staff met with people in their 60s who said this was their first time voting. Jennings said the county auditor’s office also had numerous people register to vote. At last count, it was 240 people.

“I don’t know exactly how many people registered the day of — we’re still putting that information in — but we picked up a lot of voters in this county in just that three weeks,” Jennings said. “I think people are watching the news. This was a hype election. I expect it to always be crazy on a presidential election.”

The volume of voters in a general election is vastly different than local elections. Ideally, Jennings would like to see much more participation in those city and school board races, which are just as important if not more important than the presidential election. So what can done?

Education would be a great start. Jennings said a lot of people who live in the country think that just because they live outside city limits they do not have a say in the school board races. Which just isn’t true. School district limits are much larger and very much include voters in more rural areas.

“I try to push that you should vote. Even though you live in the country, you are in a school district of some sort,” Jennings said. “People who live in the country should get out and vote more because they are in a school district and their vote should be heard. Your tax dollars go to the schools as much as it comes to us.”

Jennings said the more people get involved in their local elections, the more informed they will be. The auditor’s office had the assistance of 145 volunteers this past election. She strongly encouraged people to volunteer to learn what happens behind the scenes and how the voting process works.

“I had a gal come in last week and she asked if there was anywhere I could use her because she wanted to be part of the process and see how it works,” she said. “I told her, ‘How about joining the absentee team?’ She said sure. She came in and worked on Tuesday and she was like, ‘This is an eye-opener.’”