Voters Turn Out for District 197 Election

There were 7,276 ballots counted Tuesday evening to decide two District 197 ballot questions, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

That total includes 287 absentee ballots submitted.

At Mendota Elementary, 1,608 people voted. At Somerset, the other poll location in Mendota Heights, 1,558 people voted, according to District 197 data.

Both locations were turning over the 1,000-voters mark around 4 p.m.

Pamela Ehrlich, head judge at Somerset, described the mood as congenial as her staff of four busily checked in voters and guided them through the process.

No problems were reported at either location as of 4 p.m. “Just busy,” said election judge Barbara Castle at Mendota.

“They weren’t expecting this many people, but it’s very good,” said Ehrlich. “It’s been a very busy day.” She said because many voters pick up their kids after school, that she didn't necessarily expect an after-work rush.

A steady stream of voters kept Castle from stepping away from her post for long, but she agreed turnout appeared high. 

Because the only ballot questions are about the school district, precincts have been consolidated down to five locations: Mendota Elementary, Somerset Elementary, Pilot Knob Elementary in Eagan, Heritage Middle School in West St. Paul and Garlough Elementary in West St. Paul.

In 2007, when a similar referendum and school board election was held in an off-year, 8,256 voters turned out. That year, a renewal was approved and an increase failed.

Last year, during the even-year election that included a number of political races, 17,867 people voted. The referendum question asked last year failed by 1,203 votes.