Early voting doubles 2006 election

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - The number of people in Allen County who cast their ballots early this year more than doubled the amount in the 2006 midterm election.

Four years ago, 2,203 people voted in person, that number excludes mailed absentee ballots. Early voting ended on Monday at noon with a total of 5,833 people casting ballots in person.

During the final hours, the line of people waiting to vote stretched through the lobby of the city-county building.

Lynn Scroghar was one of the last people to vote early. He said he predicted a big turnout on Election Day and wanted to beat the rush. “I think everybody is a little concerned about the economy and jobs and [the] direction the present federal administration is going and want a change,” he said.

Political officials question whether the early voting numbers are actually indicative of the public’s interest in the election.

“I think maybe the word is getting out more that you don’t need an excuse in order to vote early, and it’s convenient,” Beth Dlug, Director of Elections for the Allen County Election Board said.

Andy Downs of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics does not anticipate an above average turnout on Tuesday.

“For a lot of people they want [the election] to be exciting. They’re hoping it’s exciting and therefore ‘it will be exciting.’ But at this point in time it looks like turnout will be about what it normally is for a midterm election,” Downs said.

Polls open at 6:00 a.m. in Indiana and 6:30 a.m. in Ohio on Tuesday, November 2.