Election Day In Ankeny: Uncontested Races Could Mean Low Turnout

ANKENY, IA — Voters will head to the polls today to select city council and mayoral candidates in cities and counties across the state. In Ankeny, a slate of candidates who face no opposition is likely to lead to a low voter turnout.

Polk County Election Commissioner Jamie Fitzgerald said, countywide, the average election is likely to draw about 8 percent of registered voters. In some communities, where there are a number of candidates on the ballot or additional questions to vote on, such as the $6 million fire station bond referendum in Urbandale or the one-cent local option sales tax throughout Dallas County, turnout is likely to be around 12 percent.

But Ankeny could see 6 percent or fewer of its registered voters show up at the polls. The mayor’s race and two at-large city council seats are on the ballot.

In the mayoral race, challenger Denny Presnall's name will appear on the ballot although he announced last month he was dropping out of the race due to health reasons. That leaves incumbent Mayor Gary Lorenz without opposition.

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MORE STORIES: Ankeny Election: Expect Low Turnout, Ankeny Mayoral Candidate Drops Out Of Race

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Two at-large city council seats also are on the Ankeny ballot. Incumbent Kerry Walter-Ashby, completing her first term, is seeking to retain her seat and Kelly Whiting, vice chairwoman of the Ankeny Planning and Zoning Commission, is running for an open seat. Whiting was appointed to the zoning commission in 2015 and the term ends in 2020, so if she is elected to the city council, she will vacate the commission position.
Without challengers, the turnout at polling sites is likely to be low on Tuesday. In 2015, when three candidates ran for the same number of Ankeny council seats, 476 was the highest vote total — which would average just over 30 votes per precinct.

When, Where To Vote

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Here are the Ankeny voting sites, by precinct:

• Ankeny 1: Ankeny First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center, 710 N.E. 36th St.
• Ankeny 2: Resurrection Lutheran Church, 914 N.W. Ash Drive
• Ankeny 3, 4: Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church, 510 E. First St.
• Ankeny 5: Cornerstone Baptist Church, 701 E. First St.
• Ankeny 6: Ankeny United Church of Christ, 602 S.E. Delaware Ave.
• Ankeny 7: First Family Church, 317 S.E. Magazine Road
• Ankeny 8, 9: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 517 S.W. Des Moines St.
• Ankeny 10: Lakeside Center, 400 N.W. Lakeshore Drive
• Ankeny 11, 12: Ankeny Evangelical Free Church, 118 N.W. Linden St.
• Ankeny 13, 14: Ankeny Baptist Church, 2842 S.W. Third St. (Includes Crocker 2 voters in Ankeny)
• Ankeny 15: Real Life Church, 2302 S.W. Third St.

For information about the election or voting procedures, call the Polk County Election Office at 515-286-3247.

Election 2017: Patch graphic