Jill Schramm/MDN Beverley Bello, election worker at the Ward County early voting site, runs election results from early vote tabulations Tuesday night in the Ward County Administration Building.

Ward County set a record turnout with 28,301 ballots cast in the unofficial count from the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.

The 54.6% turnout exceeded the 27,708 ballots and 52% turnout in the 2016 presidential election. Additional votes are expected to be counted when the Ward County Canvassing Board meets Monday at 9 a.m. in the Ward County Administration Building.

The 6,731 people who voted on Election Day this year paled next to the 19,423 who went to Election Day polls in 2016.

Ward County Auditor Marisa Haman said the 8,303 early votes were significantly more than seen in the past. The auditor’s office also had received 13,458 absentee/mail ballots as of Wednesday morning. Haman said about 90% of sent ballots were returned. With some voters changing their minds to vote in person, she doesn’t expect a large number of mail ballots to arrive before canvassing. However, there already have been more than 80 ballots set aside for canvassing board review.

Statewide, election turnout set a record with more than 363,000 votes cast. The official totals and results will be certified when the State Canvassing Board meets Nov. 13. Statewide turnout was 62.4%.

Unofficially, 51% of ballots in North Dakota were cast by absentee or mail and 24% were early votes, leaving just 25% of voters who went to the polls on Election Day.

Ward County’s election largely came off without a hitch despite breaking in new voting machines, according to Haman. She said election workers liked the new electronic processes that made their jobs easier and prevented errors.

Unofficial election results from Tuesday favored Republicans in the region’s legislative races.

In District 2, where there were no contests, Sen. David Rust of Tioga received 9,917 votes for the Senate and Rep. Don Longmuir of Stanley received 7,473 votes and Rep. Bert Anderson of Crosby 7,238 votes for the House.

Unofficial results showed Republicans winning in District 4. Jordan Kannianen of Stanley was re-elected with 4,938 votes to 2,335 for Lisa Finley-DeVille of Mandaree. The House race was led by Clayton Fegley of Berthold with 4,306 votes and Terry Burton Jones of New Town with 3,940 votes. Thomasina Mandan of New Town received 2,266 votes and Hunter Andes of Plaza received 1,942.

In District 6, Republican Shawn Vedaa of Velva held onto his Senate seat with a 5,549-2,092 victory over Democrat Morris Holen Jr. of Bottineau. Republicans also swept the House race. Dick Anderson of Willow City received 5,407 votes and Paul Thomas of Velva received 5,053, while Trygve Hammer of Velva received 1,609 and Arnold Langehaug of Glenburn received 1,606.

Howard Anderson of Turtle Lake garnered 7,939 votes in running unopposed for his District 8 Senate seat. Dave Nehring of Bismarck received 6,763 votes and David Andahl of Baldwin 5,901 votes.

Andahl died of COVID-19 shortly before the election, when it was too late to replace him on the ballot. Republicans are to choose Andahl’s replacement, according to North Dakota’s attorney general, unless voters call for a special election. However, Gov. Doug Burgum cited authority under state law to fill vacancies and named Wade Boeshans to replace Andahl. Boeshans is president and general manager of BNI Energy and chairs the Lignite Energy Council.

Democrats in the District 8 race, Kathrin Volochenko of Mercer and Linda Babb of Bismarck received 1,896 and 1,641 votes, respectively.

In District 14, Republican incumbent Jerry Klein of Fessenden defeated Democrat Jenna Vanhorne of Steele 6,137 to 1,610 in the Senate race. Republicans Jon Nelson of Rugby and Robin Weisz of Hurdsfield were re-elected with 5,479 and 5,406 votes, respectively. Democratic-NPL candidates were Mark Nelson of Rugby, 1,717 votes, and Richard Lynne of Maddock, 1,566 votes.

David Hogue of Minot finished with 6,239 votes on a District 38 Senate ballot that saw 118 write-ins. Dan Ruby, with 5,401 votes, and Larry Bellew, with 5,084 votes, were re-elected without opposition other than 175 write-ins.

Republican incumbent Karen Krebsbach received 4,241 votes for the District 40 Senate seat, for which 145 write-in ballots were cast. Republicans Matt Ruby, with 3,214 votes, and Randy Schobinger, with 2,940 votes, were re-elected over Democratic-NPL candidates Kalyn Dewitt, 1,404 votes, and Robert Kibler, 1,304 votes.

McKenzie County could see an automatic recount in its county commission race. As of Tuesday night, there was a four-vote spread between Thomas McCabe and Craig Hystad for one of three open seats. That spread could change based on late-arriving mail ballots. Hystad currently has 1,936 votes and McCabe 1,932 votes.

The other two positions on the commission went to Clint Wold with 2,104 votes and Joel Brown with 2,077 votes.

In unofficial results in McHenry County, Armann Anderson defeated Keith Cederstrom 353-255 for the unexpired two-year term in County Commission District 1. Brady Nelson defeated Allen Thompson 377-216 in District 4. Bryan Bruner, running unopposed, received 395 votes in District 2.

In Bottineau County, Jeffrey Beyer received 551 votes to 248 for Timothy Monson to top the District 2 county commission race. Lance Kjelshus ran unopposed in District 4, receiving 658 votes.

Looking to gain seats on the Rolette County Commission were Allen Schlenvogt, 1,909 votes; Henry Larocque, 1,642 votes; and Archie Metcalfe, 1,300. Finishing out of the top three for the three positions were Alex Albert, 1,212; Donna May, 1,125; and Clarence Counts, 1,088.

The District 1 commission seat in Burke County went to Shannon Holter over Nicholas Timm, 211-107. In District 3, Jarret Vanberkom topped Keith Kallberg, 282-139.

Wayne Olson bested Bert Hauge 1,928 to 1,794 in the District 1 race for Mountrail County Commission. In District 5, Jason Rice received 1,910 votes to 1,763 for Theresa Heinle.

In Williams County, David Montgomery polled 1,305 votes to 543 for Bob Eynon in the District 4 race for county commission. Running unopposed in District 2, Steve Kemp received 1,871 votes.