Voter turnout was high in Covington County yesterday with 57 percent of the registered voters casting ballots.

Probate Judge Ben Bowden, who serves as chief elections official for the county, called the turnout “awesome.”

“I will be interested to see how that compares to statewide numbers, but I think we’ll be higher than the state average.”

Bowden said interest increased with an Independent candidate on the ballot in the three-way race for state representative.

Returns took a little longer than expected because write-in votes have to be hand-counted, he said.

He expressed appreciation to Karen Lawson, Tracy Lawson and Kevin Kennedy for their work in making sure the election went smoothly.