Voter turnout promising thus far
Voters turned out in record numbers over the past two weeks to cast their ballots for the upcoming Aug. 1 election.
According to Election Administrator Donna Yates, 4,307 people took advantage of early voting. The number is a record for a non-presidential election.
The most early voters in history, 5,500, turned out in November 2000 to vote in the presidential election. The former early voting record for a non-presidential election was 2,861 in 1998 with a full local election docket.
“I think this is a good sign that we’ll have a good turnout. There’s a lot of interest in the races this year,” Yates said. “I also believe this is showing us that more people are taking advantage of early voting because of its convenience.”
Yates said turnout was consistent throughout the two-week period, with the top day being July 26 when 476 people voted early. The last day of early voting yesterday saw 245 people vote in a three-hour period. As a rule, Yates said no less than 275 people voted every day of early voting. Yates noted election officials were able to handle the large numbers with very few lengthy lines.
“The new facility where we are voting gives us more room and I believe that may be partially the reason early voting is up,” Yates said. “Not only is it convenient now, but it’s also comfortable compared to the small space we used to use downtown in our old office.”
For those who did not take advantage of early voting, polls at all 21 precinct around the county will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
In a related note, sample ballots published recently accidentally omitted the write-in box in the 1st District for sheriff. Yates said the problem was the result of a fax error and the write-in option has, and will appear, in the 1st District on election day.