Unofficial election results showed 28,719 Ward County voters, or 54.27% of the county’s electorate, cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election, according to the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. Turnout was similar to the 2020 general election.

Statewide, 371,510 voters cast ballots, or 62.5% of the electorate, which also was similar to 2020. Turnout ranged from 38.3% in Sioux County to 97.76% in Billings County.

Previous presidential elections registered a turnout of 27,708 Ward County voters (52%) in 2016 and 28,389 voters (54.8%) in 2020. North Dakota’s 2020 turnout was 364,251 voters (62.65%).

Two years ago in the nonpresidential election, only a third of Ward County’s eligible voters cast ballots. It was the lowest turnout in at least 20 years. Statewide turnout was just 42.8%.

The number of early voters was up statewide and in Ward County. There were 98,693 North Dakota voters who took advantage of early polling, compared to 87,891 in 2020. In Ward County, 12,110 people voted early, compared to 8,318 in 2020.

More people voted absentee in 2020. The total number of early voting and absentee ballots cast before Election Day in North Dakota was 273,098 in 2020 and 189,531 on Tuesday. In Ward County, there were 21,724 ballots cast before Election Day in 2020 and 16,722 cast on Tuesday. Additional mailed absentee ballots are expected to be counted by canvassing boards and added to Tuesday’s totals before election results become official. Ward County’s canvassing board meets Monday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. in the Ward County Administration Building’s first floor meeting room.