Advance voting for general election begins Oct. 13

By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Advance voting is a growing trend, county clerk Carol Maggard said Friday.

In the Aug. 3 primary, 295 of 2,706 total ballots were cast in advance — more than 10 percent.

“I see a little bit of an increase every time we have an election,” Maggard said.

Voters don’t want to be tied to a specific date, even if they don’t have plans, she said.

“It’s convenient for the voter, and that’s not a bad thing,” Maggard said.

Advance voting for the Nov. 2 general election begins even before registration ends. The first day residents can vote will be Oct. 13, pending receipt of ballots. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 18.

Registered voters can vote at the courthouse until noon Nov. 1, or they can request a ballot be mailed to them until Oct. 29.

Maggard said she urged voters to print the advance ballot application found on the county’s website, www.marioncoks.net.