Allen Countians are taking advantage of advance voting in numbers that may end up a record.
Through this morning 910 people had requested ballots; 423 voted in Allen County Clerk Sherrie Riebel’s office, another 325 have returned ballots for a total of 748. The previous high advance vote total was 1,265 in 2008.
Advance voting may be done in the clerk’s office through noon Monday and ballots may be requested to be voted at home until then, as well. Any ballots taken from the office must returned no later than 7 p.m. Tuesday, when Election Day polls close.
Riebel said ballots would be mailed on request through Friday afternoon, but not on Monday.
“Ballots have to be in my office by the time polls close Tuesday, no matter what,” Riebel said. “If we get one in the mail on Wednesday, it won’t be counted no matter when it was postmarked.”
Voters requesting ballots ahead of Election Day must have a government-issued photo identification, just as they will at polling places on Tuesday. The most popular form is a driver’s license.
Riebel also stressed that anyone living in the county might vote in her office, not just Iolans.
Last year’s 1,265 advance votes translated to slightly over 21 percent of the total vote, 5,908.
Registration is 613 greater this year, at 8,669 compared to 8,056 in 2008, and, Riebel said, voters are becoming more accustomed to voting early. Monday, for example, 165 people voted in her office.
Just about a steady stream of voters was coming to the office Wednesday afternoon, and Riebel expects numbers to pick up through Monday morning.
In 2008, the last presidential election, Allen Countians overall voted at a 73 percent rate, 5,908 of 8,056 registered.
Riebel anticipates a big turnout again this year, and advance voting gives every indication that her prediction is on the mark.
Allen Countians warm up to advanced voting
