Brisk voter turnout, and long lines, were the rule in many polling places in St Joseph on Tuesday. Precinct workers reported 200-400 people in line as the polls opened at several polling places across the city.

Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey tells us that by 8am, about 800 voters had cast ballots at Wyatt Park Baptist Church. Baack-Garvey says her prediction last Friday of 68% voter turnout was a conservative estimate. Based on telephone traffic and other indications, she thinks the final turnout figure may be significantly higher than that.

As of Monday, Baack-Garvey says 2,790 people had cast absentee ballots. By about 11am, and again at 3pm, she expected updates from each of the polling places in Buchanan County.

People who have already requested absentee ballots can still turn them in at the Clerk’s office, in the Buchanan County Courthouse, 411 Jules, Room 121. The deadline is Tuesday at 7pm.