Voter Turnout Expected To Be High

SIOUX FALLS, SD -  
A mayor, city council and school board members. The numbers at the end of the night will help shape Sioux Falls' leadership for the next four years.  And this year, more people wanted to have a say in that than ever before.

Sioux Falls voters have several choices on the ballot and there are even more voters making the decisions.

"It's great to see the voters out. This is a very important election for the city of Sioux Falls and the leadership," City Clerk Debra Owen said.

At some polling places, the voters were sporadic; there were plenty of places to vote at Terry Redlin Elementary Tuesday afternoon, but there were lines at other locations.

"We're just seeing different voter turnout in different precincts," Owen said.

But officials are still expecting to break records with voter turnout reaching as high as 50 percent.

"We're expecting to crest over that 40 percent and that's a high water mark for us to get over that 40 percent and we do anticipate reaching that and exceeding that tonight," Owen said.

Because all of the choices on the ballot are bringing out thousands of voters to make the decisions that will impact their future.

"Talk about it being a windy day. The winds of change today at this election and we're kinda looking forward to seeing the results and the people where they decided to cast their vote for in total," Owen said.

Because of the number of candidates, there will likely be a mayoral runoff election between the top two vote getters. Owen says even if the margin between second and third place is close, there will not be a recount.