Voter turnout for city of La Crosse better than expected but still very low

Turnout in Tuesday’s election for the city of La Crosse, a little better than expected but still not very good.

On the ballot were, of course, an open seat for mayor, filling seven city council seats and three school board spots.

Voter turnout was just over 28 percent, according to city clerk Nikki Elsen, who predicted it would be similar to 2013’s election of 26 percent.

La Crosse has 32,594 registered voters and 9,212 cast votes. Elsen added that number does not include same day registrations, but typically that won’t change the percentage much, if at all.

There were 4,746 absentee ballots issued and 725 were not returned.

Elsen added that a number of people opted not to return their issued absentee ballot and instead voted at the polls.

Mayor Mitch Reynolds and the new council members — of which only one is an incumbent — will be sworn in the afternoon of April 20.