Pottawattamie Turnout Hits 54% in Midterms
Several Iowa-adjacent counties reported rising voter turnout in the 2026 midterm elections compared with 2022.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Pottawattamie County reported 54% turnout among registered voters in the 2026 midterms, a 10% increase over 2022. Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties all reported turnout increases, with Sarpy County casting 80,258 ballots, or 60% of registered voters.
Why it matters
Rising turnout in several counties signals heightened voter interest in Iowa races this cycle, with voters citing the importance of their votes and the closeness of past elections. Poll workers also reported more young voters at precincts.
Sarpy County's 60% turnout compares with 53% in 2022, while Pottawattamie's 54% reflects a 10% increase over the 2022 midterms. Douglas County's final figure is pending, with 15,796 ballots still to be counted.
The players
Josh Turek
Josh Turek is the senator-elect from Council Bluffs, representing a city in Pottawattamie County.
Mary Ann Hanusa
Mary Ann Hanusa is the Pottawattamie County auditor who reported the county's turnout figure.
The details
Pottawattamie County Auditor Mary Ann Hanusa reported the county's turnout figure after all ballots were counted, and the county is reviewing write-in candidates. The Sarpy County Election Commission reported its 80,258 election-day ballots to Omaha's News Leader.
Timeline
2022: Midterm turnout baseline used for comparison.
November 4, 2026: Election day, with turnout reported across counties.
Over the next week and a half: Douglas County completes counting its remaining ballots.
Historical Context
Pottawattamie's 10% turnout gain over the 2022 midterms and Sarpy's rise from 53% to 60% place the 2026 results above the prior midterm baseline. Douglas County's count will determine whether the trend holds across the state's largest population centers.
Turnout figures from these counties shape how local and state races are read in the coming weeks. Voters can follow county canvass updates to see final results as Douglas County finishes its count.
The takeaway
Higher turnout in these counties suggests voters are engaging more closely with this cycle's races. Checking official county election results directly is the most reliable way to track final totals.
What happens next
Douglas County will finish counting its remaining 15,796 ballots over the next week and a half, which will complete the county's turnout figure.
Further reading
Explore more on Civic Engagement to see how voter participation shapes local races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KETV.
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