With Election Day approaching, Jackson County officials say early voting turnout is steady and expected to rise heading into the final weekend.
Amanda Allen, director of the Jackson County Board of Elections, said turnout is typical for a municipal cycle, which tends to draw fewer voters than federal contests. As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, Allen said 158 ballots had been cast in-person early voting, representing about 7% of eligible voters.
“Today has actually been a really busy day for the precinct,” Allen said. “Turnout is a little slower for municipalities compared to a big general election, especially one with federal contests like president.”
Allen said rainy weather earlier in the week may have discouraged some voters, but she expects numbers to rise heading into the weekend. Saturday is the final day of early voting and typically sees higher turnout.
“Saturdays are usually really popular,” Allen said. “People are out and about doing errands, and they stop by to vote.”
No major issues have been reported with voting equipment or voter behavior. The most common challenge has been confusion about eligibility. Allen said several voters arrived at the polls unaware that they lived outside the city limits of participating municipalities.
“They’re passionate about voting and know an election is happening, but they may not realize they aren’t eligible,” she said.
Absentee and provisional ballots have also seen moderate activity. Seventeen absentee ballots were approved at the last board meeting, with seven more outstanding. Four provisional ballots have been submitted so far.
Allen said the municipal election is also serving as a valuable training opportunity for precinct workers ahead of the March primary, which was moved up from May.
“This is a good chance for our workers to slow down and practice,” she said. “We’re also using this time to test improvements and prepare for the registration repair project.”
Allen encouraged voters to prepare before heading to the polls by using the State Board of Elections’ voter search tool. The tool allows voters to verify their registration, view sample ballots and confirm eligibility.
“If you don’t see a sample ballot, that means you’re not eligible,” Allen said. “If you do see one, that’s exactly what your ballot will look like when you come in.”
She also emphasized the importance of voting in municipal elections, where margins can be razor-thin.
“We’ve seen elections determined by one, two or three votes,” Allen said. “If you’ve ever felt like your vote doesn’t matter, it absolutely does. Especially in smaller elections.”
Early voting continues through Saturday. Voters are encouraged to check their status, review their ballots and make a plan to vote.
For students wondering about eligibility, Allen said on-campus housing does not fall within participating municipalities. Off-campus housing, such as Forest Hills, may vary by address.
