If last Tuesday was any indication, poll workers in Door and Kewaunee counties are going to be even busier in November when the general election comes around.

Both counties saw strong turnout in the fall primary, with about 40% of registered voters in Kewaunee County and 50% in Door County casting ballots. Both figures were much higher than the statewide voter turnout of 27%, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Kewaunee County Clerk Jamie Annoye and Door County Clerk Jill Lau said the evening went smoothly for their municipal clerks and poll workers despite the higher-than-usual number of voters.

Annoye said communication was especially important for this election because it was a partisan primary, meaning voters casting a ballot in the Democratic primary could not weigh in on the Kewaunee County sheriff’s race, which featured only Republican candidates.

Lau said fall primary participation has been increasing since 2020 and added that Tuesday’s record turnout is an indicator of how busy the Nov. 3 general election could be.

Sept. 17 is the next major date to keep in mind, as that is when municipal clerks must send absentee ballots to voters with an active request on file. Otherwise, the deadline to register to vote by mail or online is Oct. 14, and in-person absentee voting will take place from Oct. 20 through Nov. 1.