Auditor Releases Ames School Bond Voter Turnout Numbers

More than 11 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in 's $55 million bond referendum to replace and repair Ames elementary schools on Tuesday, according to information provided by the Story County Auditor's Office.

Unofficial returns report that 4,300 ballots were cast and there are 37,528 registered voters in the district bringing voter turnout to 11.5 percent. 

That's higher than most school board elections in Ames, which usually bring out 3.5 to 8 percent of registered voters said Story County Auditor Lucy Martin.

More than 69 percent of voters the referendum to rebuild and repair Ames five elementary schools.

Martin said there were no problems reported at the polls, but some were confused about where to vote due to census redistricting.  The number of polling locations were also reduced.

Just four polling places, one for each city ward, were used Tuesday and people were also able to vote early at the Story County Auditor's Office in Nevada. In Ames Ward 1 covering north and southeast Ames 1,175 cast a ballot. And 1,460 cast a ballot in Ames Ward 2 covering North Central Ames.

And 883 voters cast a ballot in Southwest Ames comprising Ward 3. Just 643 people voted in Ward 4 which covers Northwest Ames. And 139 people cast absentee ballots. 

In September, a $65 million bond referendum for six elementary schools failed. The bond was held on the same date as the school district board election bringing 16 percent of registered voters to the polls.

“That was a historic turnout,” Martin said.

Tuesday's turnout was closer to the April 2003 bond vote for improvements in which 11.6 percent of voters cast a ballot.  

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