County sees record early voter turnout

pressreporter@thefranklinpress.com

Mirroring the national trend, Maconians are coming out in droves to cast early ballots for the General Election, according to the county's board of elections.

As of Monday afternoon, Oct. 27, 5,780 of the 25,167 registered voters in the county had participated in early one stop voting. On the first day of early voting on Oct. 16, more than 700 people turned out to vote.

Additionally, 136 people have registered to vote during one stop and voted the same day.

The early voting figures for this year will eclipse the 2004 numbers, which totaled 6,225 early voters, a figure that includes absentee mail-outs and one stop voters.

Macon's board of elections has sent out 1,200 absentee mail out ballots thus far.

Despite the fact that people are early voting in large numbers, the board of elections reports that lines have been moving well and there have not been very long waits.

One statewide and nationwide trend that has not been reflected here is a higher percentage of Democrats than Republicans voting early.

In Macon, early voting is almost dead even down party lines. Including absentee mail-outs, 2,794 republicans, 2,725 democrats and 1,503 unaffiliated voters have participated in the early voting process, according to the board of elections.

Voter turnout has been high statewide (more than a million voters have cast ballots thus far), perhaps spurred by the fact that North Carolina is viewed as a key battleground state for presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

A Democratic candidate for president has not won an election in the state since 1976 when Jimmy Carter carried North Carolina, but the latest polls show a close race, with Obama holding a slight lead.

Both Obama and McCain's campaigns have invested considerable time, money and efforts into winning North Carolina's 15 electoral votes. On Oct. 5, Obama visited Asheville and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke in Asheville Oct. 26.

Additionally, the candidates have visited North Carolina several times in the past two weeks as the election enters the home stretch.

The state is also seeing a tight gubernatorial race between republican Pat McCrory and democrat Bev Perdue, and a close contest for U.S. Senate with incumbent republican Elizabeth Dole opposed by democratic challenger Kay Hagan.

North Carolina is one of 31 states that offers some sort of no excuse early voting, where voters can go in person to the election office before Election Day and cast their ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

One stop voting began Oct. 16 and will run through Nov. 1. The hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and the final day will be Saturday, Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

One stop voting is conducted at the Macon County Courthouse (5 W. Main St.), on the first floor.

Those registered voters who do not cast their ballots during one stop must vote at their assigned polling locations on Election Day, Tues, Nov. 4 (See accompanying story for details).

The polls will be open for the General Election from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Board of Elections office by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov.3.

For information on voter registration guidelines, precinct locations and 2008 General Election candidates, visit the board of elections' website at www.maconnc.org/elections.

Macon County voter breakdown

Democrats 8,846

Republicans 10,160

Unaffiliated 6,154

Libertarian: 7

25,167 total registered voters

North Carolina Voter Registration breakdown as of Oct. 27

Democrat

2,838,744

Republican

1.990,557

Unaffiliated

1,383,688

Libertarian

3,190

Total 6, 216,179