First week voter turnout 'excellent'

Published Sunday, February 24, 2008

By Staff

Nearly 1,000 people went to the polls during the first four days of early voting for the March 4 primaries in Wise County.

From Tuesday to Friday, 941 votes were cast, according to Elections Administrator Lannie Noble. The Republican primary drew 541 voters while the Democratic primary drew 400 voters.

Friday was the heaviest day yet for voting as 287 people cast ballots: 173 in the Republican primary and 114 in the Democratic primary.

"Voter turnout was excellent," said Noble, who is in his first year as election's administrator for the county.

"Everything is going smoothly. People have been pretty positive about the location and they enjoy all the parking."

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, Feb. 23, at the Decatur Wal-Mart from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit www.votewise.org.

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

For a complete list of election day voting locations, and for more information about the candidates running for office, go to http://www.wcmessenger.com/election