With slightly less than two weeks until Election Day, early voting in Fayette County for this year’s mid-term election is on an upswing from the mid-terms four years ago — following a statewide and nationwide trend.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, 1,551 registered voters in the county had cast absentee ballots, compared to 1,160 that were cast in approximately the same time-frame in 2014, according to the Fayette County Board of Elections.
“We are definitely ahead of where we were four years ago, so that is always good,” said Beth Ann Snyder, the local board of elections director. “In 2014, our total voter turnout was 40.52 percent. For this election, we’re projecting that turnout will be around 51 or 52 percent.”
Early voting that occurs at the local board of elections office, located at 135 S. Main St. in Washington C.H., has increased every election, according to Snyder and deputy director Karla Morrison.
The number of registered voters in the county is 16,548 currently, compared to 15,909 in 2014.
There are still several opportunities to vote before the Nov. 6 Election Day. The board of elections will be open for in-person voting during the following hours:
– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., today-Friday, Oct. 24-26, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27
– 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, and 1-5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 4
– During election week, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5.
On the Fayette County ballot, all of those running for county official posts are unopposed:
– James Garland, a Republican, is running for county commissioner. He will take the open seat created by the forthcoming retirement of longtime commissioner Jack DeWeese. The full term will commence on Jan. 1, 2019.
– Brenda Mossbarger is running unopposed for county auditor in the general after defeating the current auditor, Aaron Coole, in the Republican primary election.
– Current Fayette County Clerk of Courts Sandra Wilson, a Republican, is running unopposed for an unexpired term that will end Jan. 3, 2021.
The local issues on the ballot are:
– The Board of Health’s 1.75-mill, 10-year renewal levy for operating expenses.
– The Washington C.H. City Schools’ additional 1 percent earned income levy for current expenses.
– In Concord Township (one precinct), there will be a 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for providing and maintaining fire equipment.
– In Madison Township (one precinct), there will be a 1-mill, five-year renewal levy for maintaining and operating cemeteries.
– Also for residents living in the school districts for Washington C.H., Miami Trace and Greenfield, there will be a Great Oaks Career Campuses 2.7-mill renewal levy for operating expenses.
