Early Voting First Day Totals In – The Race Is On!

Early voting for the March 1^st Presidential Primary, as well as local offices of Tax Assessor and Highway Superintendent, kicked off on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Snow, freezing temperatures and wind were impacting factors on the first day’s early voter turnout, with the initial voting day having relatively low numbers. Total vote count for the first day of early voting was 287, representing 233 Republican ballots and 54 Democrat. In 2012, the early vote count was 441 after four days of voting, meaning even with a slow early vote start, 2016 is on track to far outdistance the early 2012 vote. Administrator of Elections Charles Gibson does not see Wednesday’s numbers as being indicative of voter turnout for this election cycle. In fact, he is expecting to see more voters in this cycle than he did in the same cycle for 2012. Gibson is basing his voter estimates on 2008 numbers, when the ballot, like the 2016 election, had no incumbent in the Presidential Primary.

In 2008, 8,924 voters turned out in Jefferson County to cast their vote in the primary and the Administrator of Elections is looking for a number close to that in 2016. The same election cycle in 20012 only brought out about 5,588 voters, but there was an incumbent on the ticket. Gibson, who has historically been a good gauge of potential voter turnout, is looking for close to 9,000 voters by the close of the polls on March 1^st and, should the count fall short of the 2008 numbers he is expecting them to at least exceed the 2012 turnout. But, he is quick to state that any estimate or prediction is just his best guess, based on previous like elections and record voter turnouts in Iowa and New Hampshire and he doesn’t have a clear picture on how the local elections, with one being highly contested but a generally thin local ballot, will play into the totals.

Those looking to exercise their right to early vote will have until February 23, 2016. The Election Commission will be open from 9-4 Monday -Friday and Saturday 9-noon for early voting. Satellite Offices at New Market City Hall will be open Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 9-4 and White Pine EMS Building on Tuesday-Thursday from 9-4 and Saturday 9-noon.