Early voting starts today

LAYTON -- Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins today across the Top of Utah, with one Davis city anticipating a steady stream of voters.

Those who cast an early ballot in the primary have a tendency to vote early in the general election, said Syracuse City Recorder Cassie Brown.

"We had 569 early voters (for the Sept. 15 primary). I would anticipate that number would increase for the general election, but I cannot predict by how much," she said.

Syracuse will offer early voting at City Hall, 1979 W. 1900 South, beginning today from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The voting will continue throughout the next two weeks through the close of business at 5 p.m. Oct. 30.

This municipal election season, numerous accusations have been flung back and forth among the Syracuse candidates.

Syracuse mayoral candidates Craig Jenkins and Jamie Nagle are competing for a position now held by Mayor Fred Panucci, who has opted not to seek a third term. Three candidates are vying for two open four-year council seats.

Robert Whiteley, whose name will appear on the ballot, officially withdrew from the contest Monday because of a new company policy at his workplace that restricts employees from seeking elected office.

Brown said any votes cast for Whiteley will not be counted.

Whiteley, who placed second in the Sept. 15 primary, said he is publicly endorsing Theresa Sheffield.

Sheffield, Councilman Larry Shingleton and Matt Kimmel are seeking the two council positions.

Syracuse is not the only city hoping to attract voters by offering early voting.

Layton begins offering early voting from 8 a.m. to noon today.

Despite Layton's having a hotly contested mayoral race between Mayor Steve Curtis and challenger Bob Stevenson, fewer than 8 percent of the city's registered voters cast ballots in the Sept. 15 primary.

State law requires each city to provide early voting for at least four hours per day for four days each week from now until Oct. 30, said Davis County Election Coordinator Pat Beckstead.

Voters must present ID, and if it is not a current driver's license or passport, then two other forms of identification may be used, Beckstead said.

Those residents living in the unincorporated area can vote early on the school bond issue at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, 28 E. State St., she said.

Which cities attract early voters will vary depending on which municipalities have city-related issues that bring voters out, Beckstead said.

There tends to be a larger turnout for early voting for general elections, Beckstead said, but she said she cannot speak for municipal elections.