More than 134,000 turn out to vote in Hamilton County

Rosalba Ramirez votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Mack Gaston Community Center in Dalton, Georgia. Rosalba Ramirez votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Mack Gaston Community Center in Dalton, Georgia.

By Staff Report November 7, 2018 1 min read

Photo Gallery

Election Day 2018

Voting was steady at the Dupont precinct located at The Gathering Church in Hixson.

Sister Maria Quechol, left, completes her voting at the ballot box as Mildred Hicks gets her a lapel sticker Tuesday at the Glenwood precinct.

Voting at the Glenwood precinct was steady according to Korlon Kilpatrick, the pole officer at this location near Notre Dame High School.

East Ridge mayoral candidate Brian Williams, right, smiles as his wife, Shelley, reads out early returns that show him leading on election night at Local Coffee of East Ridge on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in East Ridge, Tenn.

East Ridge mayoral candidate Brian Williams smiles while chatting with supports on election night at Local Coffee of East Ridge on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in East Ridge, Tenn.

Louise and Jim Anderson look for an open voting booth as they wait in line Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the City of Varnell Parks and Recreation in Varnell, Georgia. Although Jim had to wait in line to vote, he said

Joseph York and Jim Anderson stand at the front of a line as they wait their turns to vote Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the City of Varnell Parks and Recreation in Varnell, Georgia.

In the center, Wilma Morgan holds her 1-year-old grandson Luke Cucksee Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the City of Varnell Parks and Recreation in Varnell, Georgia. Morgan said she always votes in order to try to get the right people in office.

Owen Amos votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the City of Varnell Parks and Recreation in Varnell, Georgia. Amos said he votes in every election because you can't make a difference if your voice isn't heard through your vote.

Whitney Goble votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the City of Varnell Parks and Recreation in Varnell, Georgia.

Marlen Hernandez poses for a photo Tuesday, November 6, 2018 outside the Dalton Recreation Center in Dalton, Georgia. Hernandez, who is originally from Mexico, got her citizenship in 2017 giving her the ability to vote. Hernandez took the day off work Tuesday, so she could vote for the first time.

Nancy Martin votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chickamauga Public Library in Chickamauga, Georgia. Martin said she voted in order to "keep the Senate on the Republican side."

Ashton Wattenbarger casts his vote Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chickamauga Public Library in Chickamauga, Georgia.

Voters mark their ballots at the voting machines Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chickamauga Public Library in Chickamauga, Georgia.

Sisters, Karen Wathen and Melody Higgs vote Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chickamauga Public Library in Chickamauga, Georgia. Wathen said she recently moved to Chickamauga from Kansas to be closer to family.

Terrie Ellis, Harlin Pervansky, Stephanie Palmer and Melinda Kingsley vote Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chickamauga Public Library in Chickamauga, Georgia.

A crowd of people wait their turn to vote in fairly long lines Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia.

Jeremy Barnes, 39, assists his grandfather George Duda, 95, as he votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia. Barnes encouragement got Duda to the polls; however, Duda said voting was very important noting that

June Marsh votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia. Marsh said she votes in almost all, if not all, of the elections, and usually doesn't see the crowds she saw Tuesday. Marsh noted,

Gene Wilson reads over the ballot while casting his vote Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia.

Jeremy Barnes, 39, assists his grandfather George Duda, 95, as he votes while, in the background, River Johnson, 3, looks on as his mother Michelle Johnson votes Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia. Barnes encouragement got Duda to the polls; however, Duda said voting was very important noting that

A line of people waiting their chance to vote stretches across the gymnasium Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia.

Lines stretch the length of the gymnasium for voting Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene in Flintstone, Georgia. Voter turnout was much higher than normal, according to election officials working the site.

Lillie Lee fills out information before voting as Mike Hillis, an election official, looks on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Rossville City Hall in Rossville, Georgia. Tuesday was Lee's first time voting, and although she was running late for work due to stopping by the precinct, she wanted to make sure she voted.

Voters cast their ballots Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Rossville City Hall in Rossville, Georgia. The major race everyone is keeping an eye on in Georgia is the gubernatorial race between Brian Kemp and Stacy Abrams.

Georgia voter stickers sit out on a table for voters to grab as they left Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Rossville City Hall in Rossville, Georgia. Voter turnout was higher than normal, according to election officials, at several voting sites throughout Northeast Georgia.

Emily Johnson holds her 10-month-old daughter, Eleanor Johnson, as she and her husband, Brandon Johnson, fill out information prior to voting Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Rossville City Hall in Rossville, Georgia. The lines were fairly short at the precinct; however, there was a constant flow of voters throughout the day.

Emily Johnson holds her 10-month-old daughter Eleanor Johnson as she fills out information before voting Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Rossville City Hall in Rossville, Georgia. The lines were fairly short at the precinct; however, there was a constant flow of voters throughout the day.

John Moore, right, directs Hixson resident Lynn Wamp to the ballot box at the Dupont precinct in Hixson.

Concerns over low voter turnout in Hamilton County were put to rest in Tuesday’s general election.

The combination of two open statewide offices, massive campaign spending and the ongoing partisan debate helped Hamilton County shatter vote totals from the 2014 midterm elections and approach the presidential levels of 2016.

Long lines began to form across the county even before polls opened at 8 a.m. Election officials at Mountain Creek Church of Christ said a line wrapped around the building when doors opened. At Signal Mountain Presbyterian over 1,200 people had cast their ballots by noon.

“We have speculated on the potential precedent-setting turnout we witnessed throughout early voting,” said Hamilton County Election Commissioner Kerry Steelman. “With all precincts reporting, it is now a matter of fact that more than 134,000 Hamilton County voters participated in this midterm election, eclipsing all previous midterms elections.”

A total of 134,361 voters took part in Tuesday’s general election with 67,403 voting early and 66,958 voting on Election Day. In 2014’s midterms, 83,197 votes were counted in Hamilton County. And in the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, 145,049 ballots were counted with 74,751 people voting early and 70,298 voting on Election Day.