Early Voting Off to Slow Start

Early voting has begun for the August 2, 2018 Election, which includes Federal and State Primary elections and the county general elections.  Locally, decisions will be made on Jefferson County Mayor, all 21 County Commission Seats, and School Board Districts one and three.

Friday, July 13, 2018 marked the first day of early voting and weekend totals lagged behind averages for the dame election cycle in 2010 and 2014.  Charles Gibson, Administrator of Elections for Jefferson County, said Monday afternoon that numbers are currently trending around 100 voters less per day as compared to averages in 2010 and 2014.

This election may prove to be more challenging than that of 2010 and 2014.  County Commission District Four had only one candidate qualify for a position on the ballot.  However, candidates have qualified as write in candidates for district four.

School Board Candidate for District three, Jerry Loveday, has moved outside his district and will not be able to serve on the Board.   Should Loveday be elected, Gibson said, the position will be on the November 6 ballot.  If elected, Loveday could submit a letter stating his change in qualifying status to the County Commission.  Though the County Commission has no scheduled meeting in August, they could call a special meeting to address the issue, which would allow time for qualifying petitions for the November 6, election.   Should County Commission decline to hold a special called meeting, the position would go on the ballot on September 1, 2018, when candidates are sworn in to office.  Gibson said this would require an extension for candidates to qualify for a position on the November 6 ballot.  It would also leave the School Board one member shy until that election.

Numbers for Monday came in at the 272 mark just before close of polls.  Friday’s number was 265, and Saturday came in at 112.  These numbers do include absentee and mail in votes.

Source: Kristen Depew, News Director