Record turnout for 2024 election

UPDATED 1:28 p.m. Wednesday, November 6

When the ballot counting completed about 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a total of 8,107 ballots had been counted from Sanders County voters in Tuesday's general election. As of Tuesday morning, there were 9,218 registered voters in the county, resulting in a voter turnout of 87.95%, a new record for the county.

County elections staff said that more than 85 people had been at the courthouse Tuesday to register to voter and cast ballots.

Among notable races, Rep. Paul Fielder, a Republican from Thompson Falls, defeated challenger Colleen Hinds of Heron, a Democrat, to retain his seat represenating House District 14. Fielder received 5,075 votes and Hinds 1,696.

The election results are considered unofficial until certified by elections staff on November 14.

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Sanders County saw record turnout Tuesday as voters cast ballots for local, state and national elections.

Only one Sanders County race was contested, that of Clerk of District Court. Cynthia Neste won re-election over challenger Carl Marquardt.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 9,218 registered voters in Sanders County. While ballots were still being counted into the early morning hours on Wednesday, as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, more than 76% of voters had cast ballots that were counted.

Sanders County Elections staff reported that more than 85 people went to the courthouse on Tuesday to register to vote and cast their ballots.

The elections staff sent out 6,787 absentee ballots last month.

A small crowd of about a dozen community members and candidates watched Tuesday evening as ballots were counted at the courthouse. Plains was the last precinct to deliver ballots to the county courthouse, with ballot boxes being delivered about 11:30 p.m.

Other county races in the 2024 general election saw only one candidate running for office. Commissioner Dan Rowan and Coroner Greg Davis ran unopposed and won re-election, and Alisa Garcia, the only candidate to file for Treasurer/Clerk & Recorder/ Superintendent of Schools, will take that position in January.

In local legislative races, Paul Fielder won another term representing House District 14 in the state legislature. As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Fielder, a Republican, had received 4,208 votes and Democrat Colleen Hinds of Heron had received 1,417.

For full election results, including results by precinct, visit http://www.scledger.net.