LIVE 2012 ELECTION RESULTS

Our Earlier Coverage

Urbandale residents went to the polls today to help settle both local and national elections.

Forbes Win House District 40 Seat
John Forbes has captured the House District 40 seat, that includes Urbandale, according to unofficial results.

Democrat Forbes, a current Urbandale city councilman, recorded 9,094 votes to Republican Mike Brown's 8,040 votes.

Both men campaigned for the house seat left vacant by Scott Raecker, a Republican who represented Urbandale since 1998.

Forbes has served on the Urbandale City Council for six years and is the past president of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce.

Forbes did not return a call seeking comment Tuesday night.

Brown said, "I think we both fought a very hard race and in every election there is an element that is out of our control."

This was his first try for elected office, and Brown said "every day was a learning experience. It was a positive outcome for myself and for John."

Another try for a political office is possible, he said.

"You don't run because that's the career you want to get into. You get into it because you have the passion to (serve). I do want to make a difference … and if the opportunity comes up again, I'll think about it."

Polk County Elections Office

Carl Wiederaenders, first deputy auditor at the Polk County Election office, said 90,000 or more people voted absentee or early, but that number could grow.

"Any mail that comes in tomorrow or the next day that is postmarked Monday will be counted," he said. He said 1,200 people votged in the office Saturday and again on Monday.

The No. 1 question of the day, particularly for Des Moines residents, has been where to vote. Precincts changed for 80 percent of the people in Polk County, Wiederaenders said.

He said he visited 40 precincts today to see how things were going and believes the polling workers were well-trained. Power was down at one precinct in Urbandale, but the voting machines have battery back-up.

"One Less Vote For The Other Guy"

It's been a busy day at Jensen Elementary - or better known on Election Day Urbandale Precinct 1.

"We've had a very good day," said Bobbie Finch, who's been a precinct captain since 1954. "There are more people voting today than in the past."

Another thing increased this year? Same-day voter registration.

"People are pretty well informed of what they need to bring with them," Finch said. "Most of them have moved or are new to the area."

One was a first time voter, Finch said.

"She was 72-year-old and had never voted before today," she said.

Sam Pessolano, 23, registered Tuesday at the polls.

"I didn't realize I wasn't registered," she said. "I voted in the last presidential race, that's the only thing I vote for."

Until toddy, Pessolano wasn't going to cast a ballot.

"My friends were yelling at me," she said. "I see it as one less vote for the guy I don't like as much."

Pessolano said she voted for Obama.

"I just didn't think it mattered," she said. "But you should vote for the one you like the most, it's one less for the other guy."

Youngsters Help at Polls
Even the youngest Urbandale residents are participating in Election Day.

Sam Veeder joined his mom Donna at the polls, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, after preschool on Tuesday afternoon.

Donna said Sam asked her to wait to vote until he could go with her.

"I wanted to help," Sam said. "I had fun helping with that (pointing at the ballot readers)."

Donna said it was fun having Sam with her.

"He's so excited for the election," she said. "It's wonderful to include children, especially when they are so enthusiastic."

Donna said she chose to vote today because it's important.

"We are all privileged to have this opportunity," she said.

Absentee Votes Mean Shorter Wait at Gloria Dei Precinct
Traffic at Urbandale precinct eight has been steady since the doors opened this morning, although the number of voters seemed to be down from four years ago, said Linda Biegger, a poll worker at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

"There are quite a few absentee ballots," Biegger said. "There were 88,000 in Polk County opened yesterday. I think that's why we're not busier."

The small precinct, with about 2,200 registered voters, didn't have an open booth around 1 p.m. At that time, 449 ballots had been cast.

"I think it will pick up again after people get off work," she said.

Heavy Traffic at Urbandale Library

At the Urbandale library, which is hosting precincts 9 and 10, Janet Cleveland, a poll worker, said there had been a "steady flow of voters, but very little lines."

While some people were confused on where to vote, poll workers have gotten them to the correct site, she said.

Linda Lundgren, a worker helping voters to enter their ballots in the machine, said as of 9:30 a.m. they had 217 ballots cast at the site.

Lundgren considers that "very heavy" traffic. "Actually it's more than any election and this is probably my fifth major election in Urbandale."

First Voter Was Romney Supporter

The first voter at the Precinct Ten polling place at the library was Joe Wittrock, who was happy and content with his choice, according to the Des Moines Register.

“I’m a Republican,” said Wittrock, who voted for Mitt Romney.

“Romney will make an excellent president,” Wittrock told the newspaper. ”I’m very pleased with his ideas. The country needs them.”

Statehouse Races

In House District 40, Republican Mike Brown is taking on Democrat, and current Urbandale city councilman, John Forbes.

Both men are new to the race, seeking the seat of retired legislator Scott Raecker.

For House District 40, Republicans have an edge when it comes to voter registration, but non-party registrations could determine the race.
Republicans - 8,080
Democrats - 6,875
No-Party - 6,071

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For several months Forbes and Brown have squared off at community forums and in residents' yards with large campaign signs.

Residents will also be voting for a number of other Iowa elections including the heated race for United States Representative District 3 between incumbents Rep. Leonard Boswell and Rep. Tom Latham.

Another hot local race to watch is Polk County Sheriff, where Republican Dan Charleston is challenging one-term incumbent Democrat Bill McCarthy. Both have long careers in law enforcement. McCarthy was  a Des Moines police officer for more than 40 years, serving as chief at the time of his retirement in 2006. Charleston has been in law enforcement since 1989.

Democrats have a voter registration edge in Polk County. Updated totals as of Oct. 22 are:
Active Republicans: 81,674
Active Democrats: 101,512
Active No-Party: 76,006
Inactive Republicans: 4,317
Inactive Democrats: 8,170
Inactive No-Party: 7,226

Several other races -- State Senator District 20, Board of Supervisors District 1 and County Auditor -- are uncontested this year.

The race getting the most attention, of course, is for the White House, and Iowa's six electoral votes were likely to be a major factor in the Election 2012 results race between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

In 2008, Polk County voters supported President Barack Obama. But Urbandale voters in Polk County clearly supported the McCain/Palin ticket with 5,707 votes, compared with 4,797 Urbandale votes for Obama/Biden.

Urbandale voters in Dallas County supported McCain/Palin with 1,095 votes to 578 for Obama/Biden.

That compares with:
Polk County:
Obama/Biden 120,984  McCain/Palin 89,668
Dallas County:
Obama/Biden 15,149  McCain Palin 16,594

Obama defeated Sen. John McCain by 10 percentage points in Iowa in 2008.

The only statewide issue on the ballot this time around involves the Iowa Supreme Court, and the outcome could ultimately help decide whether gay marriage remains legal in Iowa.

In that contest, voters will decide whether to retain Justice David Wiggins, who was part of a unanimous 2009 decision that legalized gay marriage in Iowa.

Find out where to vote in Urbandale here.

For all your election needs, find the answers in our Election Guide.