In a high-stakes election that produced record voter turnout, interest groups wanting to influencing the election were out in force as well — causing some problems for Ames voters.

Multiple complaints were made to police and election officials Tuesday about members of a liberal activist organization approaching voters as they arrived at polling locations.

Ames Police received at least 10 phone calls as of 6 p.m. from voters and election officials complaining that MoveOn.org activists were too close to polling locations and needed to be told to move farther from voting locations. Under Iowa Code, electioneering is not permitted within 300 feet of all voting locations to prevent people from intimidating or influencing voter turnout.

According to The Associated Press, election officials in Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota responded to complaints of disruptions by the liberal interest group.

Barb Negri, an election official in the Ward 4, Precinct 2 polling place at Trinity Christian Reform Church, 3626 Ontario St., said she had informed a MoveOn.org volunteer earlier in the day to move away from the church entrance where she was approaching voters.

Negri said the volunteer was pleasant and left, although a neighbor later called Ames police complaining of being approached by an individual at the entrance of the church’s private driveway.

“It’s fine that they visit with [voters], just not so close,” she said.

Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson said police responded, informing the volunteer of the restriction. The volunteer complied.

Robinson said no arrests were made.

Other than Trinity Christian Reform Church, officers also responded to complaints at the Ward 1, Precinct 5 polling place at Meeker School, 300 20th St.; the Ward 2, Precinct 1 polling place at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave.; the Ward 2, Precinct 3 polling place at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave.; the Ward 3, Precinct 3 polling place at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way; and at the Ward 3, Precinct 5 polling place at University Baptist Church, 2400 Mortensen Parkway.

“We’ve been doing all we can to keep them from the polls,” said Assistant Story County Auditor Lisa Markley. “Since the polls opened this morning, poll workers have been trying and trying to get them to move.

“All our poll workers can do is ask them to move. If they don’t move, we are forced to call law enforcement.”

According to the AP, MoveOn.org has denied that its volunteers have violated state law and said that all the group’s volunteers have been informed of that state’s election laws.

In addition, 28 calls were made to the voter alert line, a phone line meant to field calls from people having voting difficulties. The calls were made from voters in Iowa’s District 4, which includes Story County.

— April Chihak contributed to this article.