Voter turnout for the June Primary and city elections is traditionally low, but a $6 million school bond issue measure at the nearby Rugby Jr.-Sr. High brought voters out in droves on June 8.

A total of 1,143 ballots were cast – well over the 348 ballots at the last combined Primary and city election in 2008. That total was also the highest since 2002 when 1,424 voted.

Indeed, the Rugby School District’s bond election for renovation and new construction at the Jr.-Sr. High, which passed, was the reason why voter numbers were up sharply. There were 855 who cast ballots for that measure.

And many citizens took time to cross the parking lot and vote in the June Primary and city elections at the Rugby Armory.

Of course, there were also plenty of contested races in the county primary as well as the city of Rugby which interested voters.

The county primary featured contested races for sheriff and District 1, 3 and 5 commission seats. There was a number of other county offices up, but all were unopposed. All the candidates in the county primary will advance to run in the general election in November.

In the city of Rugby, there was a three-way race for mayor; and all four council elections featured two candidates. There was also election for park board and municipal judge.

Karin Fursather, county auditor and primary election supervisor, was quite surprised by the high vote total.

“I expected it to be up (from 2008), but not over 1,000 ballots cast,’ she said.

The vote totals will not be official until the county canvassing board meets this Monday, June 14.