Eager to be Heard / Short lines at polls inspire pre-election day voters
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By DI LEWIS AND LORETTA PARK
Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- The declared winner after the first day of early voting in the Top of Utah was - early voting.
"We've had a great response," said Weber County Clerk/Auditor Alan McEwan. "There were lines out here in most of the locations. We had better than expected turnout by quite a bit."
Although county staff had not yet totaled exact numbers, McEwan estimated nearly 3,000 people went to vote in the six early voting locations in Weber County. Most were concerned with the time it will take to vote on Election Day, Nov. 4, because of the high interest in the presidential election.
"It's been a busy day. This has been exceptional," McEwan said. "If it continues like this, it'll make a real difference on (Nov.) 4th."
Weber County was not the only one seeing increased numbers at the polling locations. Davis County residents also turned out to put in an early ballot for their candidates.
Verl and Ruth Peterson of Bountiful saw an advantage in being among the first to vote.
"The lines are perfect," Verl Peterson said. "You just go in and are right out."
Lines were short at most Weber County locations, McEwan said, much smaller than what is usually seen on Election Day and moving quickly.
Doreen Poulsen, of Farmington, was among the 200 early voters at the Davis County Memorial Courthouse.
"I decided to early vote because there is so much interest in this election and I wanted to avoid the long lines," Poulsen said.
Poulsen said this was the first time she took advantage of early voting and really likes the idea.
She had much company in trying to avoid the long lines. Steve Rawlings, the county's clerk auditor, said that was also his intent.
"I thought I'd be one of the first ones in line, but I was number 101," Rawlings said at the Davis County Commission meeting.
Voting began with relatively few problems, McEwan said. A few machines were still being set up Tuesday morning and voting had to be moved to a larger room in the Roy location, but other than that things went smoothly.
Poll workers were surprised by the high turnout but handled it well, he said.
McEwan urges residents to continue taking advantage of early voting which continues in Box Elder, Weber, Morgan and Davis counties until Oct. 31.
In Davis County, voters can also vote early at the libraries in Layton, Clearfield, Bountiful and Centerville.
For more information, call 451-3589 or go to http://www.co.davis.ut.us.
Weber voters can go to the Huntsville library, North Ogden City Office, Roy library, Weber Center, Weber Ice Sheet or the Marriott-Slaterville City Office.
They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Polls are closed Sunday.
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