(La Porte County, IN) - Voter turnout in La Porte County was 60 percent for this year’s election. 

 

According to figures provided by the La Porte County Clerk’s Office, there were 22,309 votes cast on Election Day while 24,208 people cast ballots during the early voting period.  There are 78,924 registered voters in La Porte County.

 

Interest in this year’s election was so high there were lines of people outside some of the vote center locations before the polls were scheduled to close at 6 p.m.  Voters who showed up before 6 p.m. were allowed to vote, which delayed by at least one hour the start of vote tabulating.

 

La Porte County Councilman Mike Mollenhauer, who was elected to his third term as an at-large member, said it was gratifying to have such a high turnout.  He said it’s disappointing for candidates when voter turnout is much lower.

 

“This time they showed up.  That is so great,” he said.

 

Mollenhauer was the only Democrat among the local candidates to win.  He placed third for to fill one of the three open County Council at-large seats.  He was the La Porte County Sheriff for two terms before taking a seat on the county council.