Allen County residents showing up early, often to vote
ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) Residents have exercised their right to vote at early voting locations in high numbers this election season.
Beth Dlug, director of elections at the Allen County Election Board said in the first day that satellite locations were open for early voting, more voted Tuesday than voted early for the full 30-day early voting period in 2012.
2,704 residents voted at the five satellite locations around the county. In 2012, Dlug said 2,109 people voted early at those locations in a month.
Early voting for the May 3 primary was made available beginning Tuesday at the Aboite, Dupont, Georgetown and Hessen Cassel branches of the Allen County Public Library, as well as the Rousseau Center in downtown Fort Wayne.
At those locations, residents found long lines and long waits to cast their vote. At the Aboite branch on Tuesday, voters lined up an hour early, and after the doors finally opened the line grew out that door and down the sidewalk. At the Dupont branch on Wednesday, the scene was similar with a 30-minute wait to vote.
Dlug said the high-profile races have led to the high numbers at the polls early. She said the election board did its part, by mailing out postcards to every voter with the days, hours and locations of the satellite locations.
Dlug said while this election season’s local voting numbers are high, the election board usually sees spikes in early voting the week before the election because voters can no longer receive mailed ballots.
Dlug said she expects this the popularity of early voting to continue.
“All the way to Election Day!” she said.
Early voting continues through Saturday.
Satellite locations will be open for early voting at the Allen County Public Library branches:
- Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Rousseau Centre lobby will open for voting at 8 a.m. and remain open for the same extended hours as the satellites. The final day to vote early at the Rousseau Centre is Monday, May 2 from 8 a.m. to noon.