Voting heavy on first day

Published Thursday, February 21, 2008

By Staff

Due in part to the close race for the Democratic presidential nominee, Texas looks like it will be a major player in this year's primary election. That may explain the heavy turnout for the first day of early voting in Wise County.

Voting began in the Republican and Democratic primaries in Wise County Tuesday with 230 votes cast, according to Elections Administrator Lannie Noble.

Noble said 127 Republicans and 103 Democrats cast ballots on the first day of early voting.

The 230 votes cast is nearly three times the number of votes cast in the last primary election during a presidential election year. In 2004, 78 people cast ballots on the first day of early voting (54 Republican and 24 Democrat).

Early voting in the March 4 primaries is at the Decatur Civic Center, 2010 West U.S. 380, on the east end of the building, each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Feb. 29. There will also be special branch voting this Saturday at the Decatur Wal-Mart from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.votewise.org

Election day voting will be March 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 22 locations throughout the county.