By Becky Long
Publisher
Early voting in Clay County could be on track with the previous mid-term election in 2022. Records show 325 votes cast as of Wednesday morning.
Four years ago the final tally for early voting in 2022 was 1,480, according to Elections Board Director Rebecca Hall.
There are still days remaining to get votes in early.
Voting booths are set up at the BOE office at 75 Riverside Circle in Suite 3, on the lower level of the former Community Services Building across from the library.
Early voting continues until Saturday, Feb. 28. It is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ballot requests by party mimic registration numbers. Requested ballots include 247 Republican compared to 78 Democratic Party ballots.
In late January Republicans out-registered Democrats - 5,095 to 1,264. Unaffiliated registrations stand at 3,680.
Who is voting more, women or men? In Clay County the women have it, but only by 10 votes, according to Vote Tracker, a project of the John Locke Foundation.
So far 161 women have voted compared to 151 men. Eleven voters were undesignated.
Another interesting early voting statistics is the largest demographic of early voters are between the ages of 69 and 75 with 70 ranking the highest.
Clay County has several offices on this year’s ballot, but most of the local offices will be on the Republican ballot including the sheriff’s race between incumbent Mark Buchanan and former sheriff, Joe Shook.
The commission race has eight candidates vying for three seats on the board. On the Republican ballot, two candidates have dropped out, Matt Denham and Bonnye Williams.
Contenders are now Tighe White, Robert Seibert, Jason A. Ricket, Christian Reagan, Dwight S. McClure, Sr. and Andy James.
In the Board of Education race candidates are campaigning for three seats on the board, they are Kevin Crawford, Reba Beck, Brett Woody, incumbent Jason Shook and Keith Parker.
Unaffiliated candidates who qualify will be on the November ballot.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, March 3. Precincts will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
However you choose to vote, don’t forget your photo ID.