ICC precinct turns out almost 66 percent for midterm

COLUMBUS — The Columbus 8 precinct, which votes at the Isothermal Community College, turned out the most voters for this year’s midterm election out of Polk County’s seven precincts. 

Columbus 8 turned out 1,726 voters out of 2,699 registered voters in the precinct, or 63.95 percent. 

The total voter turnout for the Nov. 6 election in Polk County was 57.74 percent, according to the latest figures from the Polk County Board of Elections Office. 

The results are now official, after the board of elections recently canvassed the votes and counted any remaining provisional votes. 

Tryon had the second-highest turnout this year, at 61.16 percent turnout. Tryon, the largest of Polk County’s precincts, has 3,190 registered voters and had 1,951 voters this year.

Saluda had the third-highest turnout at 59.95 percent. Saluda is the county’s smallest precinct, with 1,598 registered voters. The November election saw 958 voters come out in Saluda. 

The fourth-highest voter turnout was in Coopers Gap, the county’s second-smallest precinct, with 1,642 registered voters. Coopers Gap had 899 voters turnout for the mid-term election at 55.77 percent. 

The fifth-highest voter turnout came from Columbus 7, which votes at Polk County High School. Columbus 7 has 2,447 registered voters and saw a 54.97 percent turnout with 1,345 voters turning out. 

The sixth highest voter turnout came from Green Creek, the county’s second-largest precinct with 2,730 registered voters. Green Creek turned out 1,493 voters, or 54.69 percent. 

The least voter turnout came from White Oak, which is the county’s third-smallest precinct. White Oak has 1,896 registered voters and turned out at a rate of 50.79 percent with 963 voters. 

The county overall turned out 57.74 percent of its voters, which is high for a midterm. The county has 16,167 registered voters with 9,335 casting votes for the Nov. 6 election. 

Republicans outvoted both unaffiliated voters and Democrats, although there are more unaffiliated voters in the county than any party. Republicans cast 3,469 votes, compared to 3,268 unaffiliated votes, 2,544 Democrat votes and 28 Libertarians. 

Total votes: 

Coopers Gap: 899   Dems: 144 Reps: 438 Lib: 7 Un: 308

Columbus 7: 1,345  Dems: 386 Reps: 482 Lib 4 Un: 468

Columbus 8: 1,726 Dems: 407 Rep: 705 Lib: 1 Un: 611

Green Creek: 1,493  Dems: 417  Reps: 585 Lib: 1  Un: 481

Saluda: 958  Dems: 325  Reps: 347  Lib: 4  Una: 726

Tryon: 1,951  Dems 656  Reps: 557  Lib: 7  Un: 726

White Oak: 963  Dems: 299  Reps: 355  Lib: 4  Un: 302

Grand totals: 9,335  Dems: 2,544  Reps: 3,469  Lib: 28  Un: 3,268

Registered voters: 

Coopers Gap: 1,612

Columbus 7: 2,447

Columbus 8: 2,699

Green Creek: 2,730

Saluda: 1,598

Tryon: 3,190

White Oak: 1,896

Total registered voters: 16,167 or 57.74 percent

Voter turnout: 

Coopers Gap: 55.77 percent

Columbus 7: 54.97 percent

Columbus 8: 63.95 percent

Green Creek: 54.69 percent

Saluda: 59.95 percent

Tryon: 61.16 percent

White Oak: 50.79 percent