FARGO (KFGO-AM) - Data collected with new polling books with upgraded software used by poll workers in a trial run at 6 voting centers in last week's Fargo special election gave a good breakdown of voter turn-out.
Cass County Election Coordinator Deann Buckhouse says the bulk of the voters were in the 55 to 64 age group, with slightly more than 3800 votes. She says 18 to 24 year olds were "pretty much absent." Only 333 in that age group cast ballots.
Buckhouse says she was surprised that one of the peak times for voter turnout was between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
The county is looking at purchasing the poll book system to replace an outdated computer system at a cost of more than $300,000. Buckhouse says it will offer not only election officials, but the public "real time" information on-line about voter turnout. She says it will also assist political parties focus on age groups with low turnout.
Slightly more than 15,500 people voted in the city election, either early, absentee, or the day of the election.