|
Published: October 22, 2008 09:02 pm
A lot on the line in 2008
Two day early voting total ahead of 2004
Tommy Mann, Jr.
The Orange Leader
After two days of early voting, turnout is exactly as anticipated as large numbers of registered voters cast ballots for possibly the most exciting U.S. Presidential election ever.
According to the Orange County Election Administration Office, a total of 3,461 ballots have been submitted in person and through the mail on Monday and Tuesday.
"We've had a heavy turnout so far, which is just what we expected," said Tina Leverett, election administrator. "Voting is a little heavier than it was through the same period in 2004, and I would assume it will stay this way through the remaining early voting period."
The early voting location in Orange is at the Orange Public Library in downtown. According to Leverett, 618 votes were submitted on Monday and 587 on Tuesday for a two day total of 1,205. In 2004, only 794 votes were submitted over the same two day period.
In Bridge City, the early voting location has been moved to Winfree Baptist Church on State Highway 62 because of Hurricane Ike issues. Through two days, 475 votes have been cast with a high of 252 of Tuesday. In 2004, 598 votes were cast over the same two day period.
A total of 910 votes have been cast at the Raymond Gould Community Center in Vidor through Tuesday with a high count of 475 on Monday. In 2004, only 804 votes were received after two days.
The Mauriceville early voting location remains centered at First Baptist Church on State Highway 12.
On Monday, 178 votes were received while another 151 were counted on Tuesday. In 2004, a total of 228 votes had been received over the same two day span.
A large number of votes have been received at the Orange County Election Administration office this week too. According to Leverett's office, 542 ballots have been received after two days, which is surprisingly less than the 807 votes received after two days of early voting in 2004.
The number of ballots received through the mail is expected to remain at these levels because of the number of people displaced by Hurricane Ike who still wish to submit a vote this election.
The two day total of 3,461 votes this early election period is 230 votes more than the 2004 figure of 3,231 during the same time frame.
Early voting continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., today through Saturday, and resumes Monday before ending Oct. 31.
Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2620 or tmann@orangeleader.com
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
