More than 21,000 Allen County registered voters have used early voting

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Officials at the Allen County Election Board expect early voting numbers to be up, compared to the 2008 presidential election.  As of Saturday, more than 21,000 voters have cast an early vote at the Fort Wayne office.

For the second straight Saturday, voters formed a long line outside the board's office along West Superior Street.  On Saturday, more than 13 hundred people voted.  On Friday, workers at the office saw the largest number of early voters, when 1,497 people had cast an early vote.

"We are about 3,000 ahead of where we were in 2008," Andy Boxberger, the vice president of the Allen County Election Board, said.  "We think that probably has to deal with people more comfortable with early voting and that's becoming more prevalent."

Most voters had at least a 30 minute wait Saturday, but thought they would have at least the same wait if they chose to vote on Tuesday.  Many of them said they voted early because of the convenience.

"I just wanted to make sure I got my vote in," Gabriel Gan, an early voter, said.  "I couldn't make it out for Tuesday.  Saturday was a good option for me."

Gan said he wanted to watch some of the debates over the last few weeks, but he already knew he planned on voting for before watching them.

"It was simply a logistical thing," said Rob Casault, who made it in line a little before Saturday's 3 p.m. deadline, said.  "This worked out as a day I was in town and could do it.  So here I am in line."

Early voting ends Monday at noon.  Absentee ballots have to be returned to the election board's office by noon on Tuesday.

NewsChannel 15's Drew Blair will talk to Boxberger on First News Sunday, to discuss the board's last minute preparations for Election Day, and what voters need to know before heading to the polls.