Midterm voter turnout drops in Lincoln County

The voter turnout rate in Lincoln County hit its lowest point since 1998 in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Of 13,101 registered voters, 7,439 participated, representing 56.7 percent. Traditionally, Lincoln County voters turn out in rates higher than the state average. That pattern continued as the statewide turnout in 2014 was 54.6 percent.

The Libby North precinct, at 64.5 percent, recorded the highest participation rate of any precinct in the county, followed closely by Libby East at 63.5 percent. Libby Plummer was the only other precinct greater than 60 percent, at 60.6.

Voters in the City of Troy precinct recorded the lowest turnout rate, at 47 percent. Trego, at 47.2 percent, Pleasant Valley at 48.2 percent and Eureka at 49.5 percent round out the list of precincts with less than 50 percent participation.

Several local elections could have been significantly impacted by higher voter activity. Three Lincoln County races were decided by less than 700 votes. Incumbent Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe won by 675 votes, outpacing write-in challenger Darren Short. Challenger Bill Clark finished with 27.7 percent of the sheriff votes. 

Justice of the Peace Jay Sheffield defeated fellow incumbent Stormy Langston by 452 votes. In the clerk and recorder race, challenger Robin Benson overcame incumbent Tammy Lauer by 203 votes.

Higher turnout rates in certain precincts could have altered the final results in this year’s elections. Precinct 3, which represents the rural area surrounding Eureka, has a total of 2,200 registered voters. Of the 1,270 voters who cast ballots, 73 percent voted for Langston. With a countywide margin for Sheffield of just 452, the 930 voters that didn’t show could have changed the outcome of that race, assuming Langston’s support in the Eureka district remained consistent.

Conversely, incumbent Clerk and Recorder Tammy Lauer performed better in the precincts in and around Libby. Higher turnout rates in those precincts could have resulted in a different outcome, whereas higher turnout in other districts could have led to a higher margin of victory for Benson.

All told, 5,662 registered voters did not cast ballots in the 2014 election. Not all of those voters are considered active, as some have moved or passed away. That number also does not include eligible voters who have not registered.