As early voting nears its end, numbers are starting to pick up in Warren County where turnout was less than stellar in its early stages.
“Voting has picked up so I think we’re doing OK,” said election administrator Donna Smith, noting early balloting will continue in the early voting room behind the county government building on Locust Street through Saturday.
There had been 1,963 early votes cast as of the last report Wednesday night.
The number is quickly catching the 2,257 who voted early in the general election two years ago and has already surpassed the 1,577 who voted early in the general election four years ago in 2008.
This year’s election is similar to that of 2008 in that the same three School Board spots were up for grabs, as well as the state Senate spot. This year’s added race is for General Sessions Judge following the early retirement of Judge Larry Ross.
As is the norm, the biggest day of early voting was opening day when 310 people voted. Today is expected to be a big day as traditionally the first and last days of early voting are the biggest.
Early voting is today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to noon at the rear of the county building on Locust Street.
While early voting has been somewhat sluggish here, it has been high across the state with 223,023 casting their votes by last report Wednesday night.
Republicans are hugely outvoting Democrats with 147,876 voting in the Republican primaries and 54,596 voting Democrat. Warren County is one of only 13 counties in which Democrats have outvoted Republicans as there had been 1,162 vote in the Democrat primary and 719 in the Republican primary.
Those who do not early vote may vote on election day Aug. 2 when polls open around the county from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.