Despite the ongoing pandemic, voter turnout during Tuesday's primary was comparable to turnout in the last primary.
"We're seeing a steady flow of voters," said election judge Gerry Hamilton on Tuesday afternoon. He was among the poll workers stationed at the Fulton City Hall polling place.
In total, 8,354 Callaway County residents cast ballots - a voter turnout of 28.93 percent, - according to uncertified results posted by the Callaway County Clerk's Office. During the last similar election - a primary during a presidential election year, also featuring multiple county-level races - was in August of 2016, during which 28.86 percent of registered voters participated. Callaway County has gained 817 registered voters since 2016.
Though overall turnout was comparable, this election saw more than twice the number of individuals voting absentee. In 2016, 480 Callaway County voters submitted absentee ballots. This year, 988 did so.
In June, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a bill allowing all Missouri voters to vote by mail upon request in both this election and November's. Most voters must have their ballot notarized in order to participate by mail. Certain Missourians considered at-risk for COVID-19 were exempted from the notary requirement; risk factors included age (65 years or older), residing in a long-term care facility and certain health conditions (chronic lung disease, asthma, immune diseases, diabetes, heart conditions and more).
Voters who opted to show up in person enjoyed a number of safety measures. Tape on the floor marked out six-foot intervals to encourage proper social distancing, as did posters. Plastic screens separated voters from poll workers. Similar were in place during the municipal election in July
"When you pick up the pens, they've just been sanitized - they're still a little damp," said Becky Stinson, a Fulton resident voting Tuesday at city hall.
CARES Act funds helped pay for the safety measures, including one new to this election: the "Adopt-a-Poll program," in which individuals and groups could sign up to keep a polling place clean. Volunteers were paid $15 an hour for the work - money they could opt to keep or to donate toward a group of their choosing.
The Fulton Kiwanis teamed up to man the Fulton City Hall polling station.
"We're doing this as a fundraiser for Kiwanis," explained club member Bill Whitlow.
He was tasked with wiping down voting stations between uses by voters. Whitlow said that since COVID-19 arrived, Kiwanis hasn't had many chances to raise funds.
Many voters took safety measures of their own, too - Marilyn Turner, a poll worker, said most voters she'd seen were wearing masks. Multiple voters told the Fulton Sun they had no hesitation about voting in person.
"I've been wearing a mask, wearing gloves, taking precautions," said Susan Wilson.
"I think it's my civic duty to vote," said Roger Kempker.
Several said they wouldn't consider using a mail-in ballot in November.
"In this day and age, even I and my home copier, I think I could recreate (a ballot)," said Becky Stinson. "Are they going to scan every single one?"
In Missouri, a bipartisan team of election judges must open, review and process every absentee ballot.