Preliminary voting results reveal that Iowa citizens turned out in droves to participate in the electoral process Tuesday, with almost 61 percent of Iowa’s registered voters participating in the 2018 Midterm election. 

More than 1,320,000 voters have been tallied as of Wednesday morning, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, toppling the previous record set in 2014 of 1,142,311 votes.

“I am very proud that so many Iowans across the state came out and made their voices heard in record numbers. They have once again proven that we are a leader in voter registration and participation,” Secretary of Paul Pate said in a press release.

Pate was re-elected Tuesday night to his third-term securing 52.5 percent of the vote against Democrat Deidre DeJear.

In Story County, 61.5 percent of the 69,525 registered voters cast their ballot. In almost all races, Story County residents voted majority Democrat. 

On Wednesday, Iowa began the process to conduct the first statewide post-election audit in Iowa history. The audits are anticipated to be completed next week, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.

“Post-election audits add another layer of integrity to the election process,” Pate said in the press release.

Election integrity has been a priority of Pate, who in recent years, has worked to institute voter ID laws that are set to go into full effect beginning in 2019.