Early voting numbers a bit sluggish

Early voting numbers were less than expected for the first two days of early voting Wednesday and Thursday, and election officials suspect the Easter holiday may have something to do with it.

?We?ve tried to get out the word as much as possible that we were voting Wednesday and Thursday but some people may have thought we were just going to start after the Easter holidays,? said election administrator Donna Yates of the sluggish start to early voting.

As of closing time Thursday afternoon, just under 700 people had voted the first two days of early voting. The average daily number is down slightly from the 500 or so who traditionally vote each of the opening days. The first few days and last few days of early voting are generally the most heavily voted as about half of all voters now take advantage of the early voting option.

This year there was no early voting Friday and Saturday due to Good Friday. Should the holiday be the reason for the lower turnout ? and not voter apathy ? a decent second week turnout is expected by election officials, who report there has been little to no waiting to vote thus far during early voting.

Early voting will continue this week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday. Early voting will then resume the following week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until conclusion of early voting on Thursday, April 27. Early voting is held in the rear of the county administrative offices on Locust Street.

Yates is reminding voters to bring their voter?s card, driver?s license or proof of identity.