By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Voters are heading to the polls for today's municipal election.
But in looking at the history of April elections, Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey says she's not expecting a very high turnout today
"I did a little research on the past five April elections, and they average out to be a 20% turnout," Baack-Garvey tells KFEQ News. "So, I'm going to stick with that number, I hope I'm wrong and it's higher, maybe we'll hit 25%, but that's what I'm just kind of sticking through looking at the history of these April elections."
Baack-Garvey says she's unsure why the April numbers are usually lower than during a presidential election year
"I feel like a broken record, but I think April elections are just as important as a presidential," Baack-Garvey explains. "It affects you immediately right here at home, your school board district members, the tax issues that could be going on, those affect you right away, so I have always wondered why people don't really show up to vote in April."
Most major issues on the ballot focus on the St. Joseph School District. The district has placed a $157 Million bond issue on the ballot, one that proposes building a new high school in St. Joseph as the district moves from a three high school model to two.
St. Joseph voters also will choose two candidates for the Board of Education from six on the ballot. Polls close today at 7pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.