Primary Election Turnout | Video

Jessica Roose | 6/12/2012

Polling places like the Bismarck Civic Center saw a record turnout of voters Tuesday. At 6:00 Tuesday evening, more than 1,600 people have already cast their ballots.

Since polls opened at 7:00 a.m. people have been making their way to vote in what is turning out to be a record breaking primary election. And it`s not just what`s on the ballot that is getting them out.

"It`s freedom to vote and it`s something that people have fought and died for and we need to do it," said Bismarck resident John Hursey.

"I think that it`s very important that we as citizens vote and make our feelings known and our opinions count," said Bismarck resident Mariah Wipperling.

Three measures are on the ballot that have been receiving a lot of attention, and even prompted some to get their vote in early. One measure, if passed, would eliminate property taxes in the state. Another claims to protect religious liberty, and the last could even settle the UND fighting sioux nickname dispute.

"It always has to do with what`s on the ballot but I think people are getting more acclimated, more accepting of voting early. Voting before election day and increasing that time when they can cast their vote," said Burleigh County Auditor kevin Glatt.

Glatt says more than 5,000 people chose to vote early in Burleigh County for this election through both early and absentee ballots.

"Quadruple what we would see in the normal primary election. I went back ten years and I think ten years ago we did about a thousand. Two years ago it was 1,400 or 1,480. Something like that," Glatt said.

Our primary isn`t just getting a lot of attention here in the state. Across the country, media outlets are keeping an eye on Measures 2 and 4.

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