July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Local absentee voting rate up (10/28/04)
More choosing to vote early
Two changes — one to state law and the other to a new electronic voting system — have likely triggered an increase in the number of people voting early in Jay County.
Through Wednesday afternoon, more than 900 had cast votes for the upcoming general election either by mail or in person. With four more days to vote absentee (today, Friday, Saturday and Monday), the total of 918 absentee ballots cast through Wednesday afternoon already exceeds the number of absentee ballots in the general election of 2000.
Jay County clerk Jane Ann Runyon, who oversees elections in the county, said there has been a steady stream of voters casting absentee ballots in the election room on the first floor of the courthouse.
“For the last few days, they’ve been doing an average of 50 a day. That’s a good amount,” Runyon said.
Those who vote absentee in person this year are not using the new electronic system, but are filling out paper ballots. In future years, absentee voting will be done on the new system.
In 2000, a total of 751 absentee ballots were cast by mail or in person. That represented about 5 percent of the total number of registered voters (about 14,300).
A change in state law since 2000 now allows anyone to vote early for any reason, and that, combined with some possible trepidation about the county’s new electronic system, has more people casting ballots early.
Through Wednesday, more than 6.5 percent of the county’s registered voters (about 14,100) had cast early ballots.
In addition to those factors, lively races for president, governor and state representative are also driving up interest in elections. Jay County, which had a voter turnout of 58 percent in the 2000 general election, could see that number increase this year, Runyon believes.
“Almost everybody I’ve talked to (across Indiana), the absentee rates are up,” Runyon said.
Runyon, who has kept busy this fall hosting public demonstrations of the new election equipment, said most members of the public have been receptive to the change — especially after trying it out.
One of the new machines is set up for demonstration purposes outside of the clerk’s office on the second floor of the courthouse. Employees from the clerk’s office will available Friday and Monday to help voters with any questions about the machines.
Those who plan to vote at one of the county’s 21 precincts on Tuesday will find fewer voting stations than they are used to seeing at the polls.
A total of 48 voting machines will be sent out to precincts. The six largest precincts will have three machines each, with the other 15 precincts having two each.
Runyon said this morning she does not expect excessively long lines at the polls on Tuesday.
Absentee voting in person will be held Friday (8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.), Saturday (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Monday (8:30 a.m. to noon).[[In-content Ad]]
Through Wednesday afternoon, more than 900 had cast votes for the upcoming general election either by mail or in person. With four more days to vote absentee (today, Friday, Saturday and Monday), the total of 918 absentee ballots cast through Wednesday afternoon already exceeds the number of absentee ballots in the general election of 2000.
Jay County clerk Jane Ann Runyon, who oversees elections in the county, said there has been a steady stream of voters casting absentee ballots in the election room on the first floor of the courthouse.
“For the last few days, they’ve been doing an average of 50 a day. That’s a good amount,” Runyon said.
Those who vote absentee in person this year are not using the new electronic system, but are filling out paper ballots. In future years, absentee voting will be done on the new system.
In 2000, a total of 751 absentee ballots were cast by mail or in person. That represented about 5 percent of the total number of registered voters (about 14,300).
A change in state law since 2000 now allows anyone to vote early for any reason, and that, combined with some possible trepidation about the county’s new electronic system, has more people casting ballots early.
Through Wednesday, more than 6.5 percent of the county’s registered voters (about 14,100) had cast early ballots.
In addition to those factors, lively races for president, governor and state representative are also driving up interest in elections. Jay County, which had a voter turnout of 58 percent in the 2000 general election, could see that number increase this year, Runyon believes.
“Almost everybody I’ve talked to (across Indiana), the absentee rates are up,” Runyon said.
Runyon, who has kept busy this fall hosting public demonstrations of the new election equipment, said most members of the public have been receptive to the change — especially after trying it out.
One of the new machines is set up for demonstration purposes outside of the clerk’s office on the second floor of the courthouse. Employees from the clerk’s office will available Friday and Monday to help voters with any questions about the machines.
Those who plan to vote at one of the county’s 21 precincts on Tuesday will find fewer voting stations than they are used to seeing at the polls.
A total of 48 voting machines will be sent out to precincts. The six largest precincts will have three machines each, with the other 15 precincts having two each.
Runyon said this morning she does not expect excessively long lines at the polls on Tuesday.
Absentee voting in person will be held Friday (8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.), Saturday (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Monday (8:30 a.m. to noon).[[In-content Ad]]
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