Nearly 50 percent of registered voters came out for midterms in Rowan
Published 3:58 pm Tuesday, November 8, 2022
- Volunteers gather outside of the Salisbury Civic Center, passing out flyers to voters entering the polling station. Charlie Drape/Salisbury Post
SALISBURY — Voter turnout in Rowan County in Tuesday’s midterm elections was slightly higher than in years past, with 49.3 percent of registered voters casting their ballot either through early voting or on Election Day.
That means 48,088 votes were cast out of 97,548 total registered voters.
In 2018, voter turnout was slightly higher at 49.96 percent because there were several constitutional amendments on the ballot. In 2014 turnout was 42.67 percent and in 2010 it was 40.82 percent.
Elaine Hewitt, chairman of the Rowan County Republican Party, said she believes the lack of Democrat candidates reduced excitement over individual races that might otherwise have pushed turnout over the 50 percent mark.
On the state level, all delegates representing Rowan County are now Republican, and the entire Rowan County Board of Commissioners is Republican.
While the numbers below do indicate winners of the elections, the N.C. Board of Elections will hold a Zoom meeting Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. to count absentee supplemental and provisional ballots for the 2022 General Election and formally certify results.
In the race for county commissioners, the Republicans swept back into office, with the top three vote-getters being Greg Edds, 32,854 (26.82 percent); Jim Greene, 32,592 (26.61 percent); and Judy Klusman, 32,166 (26.26 percent).
Democrats Alisha Byrd-Clark finished with 13,340 (10.89 percent) and Sam Post finished with 11,540 (9.42 percent).
In the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Board of Education race, Kevin Jones was re-elected in the North (Seat 1) with 18,673 (48.31 percent). Eddie Spillman had 14,449 (37.38 percent) and Rashid H. Muhammad has 5,359 (13.87 percent).
For the South (Seat 2), Dean Hunter was re-elected with 25,498 (66.49 percent) votes. Ruth E. Marohn got 12,715 (33.16 percent).
James (Jimmy) Greene Jr. won the West (Seat 4) with 25,173 (63.12 percent) votes. Ebony Rivers Boyd had 8,072 (20.24 percent) and Myra Tannehill had 6,514 (16.33 percent).
In the special race (Seat 6), Sabrina Harris won with 19,328 (53.84 percent). W. Jean Kennedy finished with 16,158 (45.01 percent).
Dr. Lynn Marsh won the Southeast race (Seat 6) with 15,606 (40.61 percent) votes. Brad Jenkins had 12,753 (33.18 percent) votes and Michael C. Chapman had 9,922 (25.82 percent).
In the race for sheriff, Republican Travis Allen defeated Carlton Killian by a count of 34,043 (71.98 percent) to 13,249 (28.02 percent).
The town of Rockwell voted to allow the sale of mixed beverage by a vote of 541 (68.92 percent) to 244 (31.08 percent).
In the Soil and Water Conservation District, there were two positions available, so one went to Cheryl McCoy Correll with 27,980 (50.34 percent) and the second went to Bruce Rider with 26,961 (48.51 percent). The District is made up of five members, three of which are elected and two appointed. Rider was an incumbent, and Correll had been appointed to fill a vacated seat. The four-year terms are staggered, meaning in two years, the one additional seat will be up for election.
Carl Ford easily was re-elected to District 33 seat in the N.C. Senate.
In North Carolina’s Senate race, Republican Ted Budd leads Cheri Beasley with nearly 1.8 million votes (50.95 percent) to 1.66 million (46.89 percent) with 91 percent of state precincts reporting.
All vote totals are unofficial until they are certified.
According to the Associated Press, Republican Dan Bishop won reelection to the U.S. House in North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District.
Some polling stations reported having short lines off and on through the day, and in East Spencer, Mayor Barbara Mallett said there was a steady stream of voters.
“We’ve had people coming through all day long,” she said earlier Tuesday. “Some have made up their minds on voting, so we have other information on local events and happenings, and some are still looking for information on candidates and we give them everything we can.”
A nonprofit organization was also on hand in East Spencer offering at-home COVID tests, masks, snacks, bottled water and pizza.
