Record voting numbers reported by county clerk

Days away from the 2008 Presidential General Election, Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long and her staff have been busy.

It has been a record year for advanced voting across the nation and Bourbon County is no exception.

"Every day is getting busier," said Long. "We are averaging 94 voters a day."

Since 1998, the most advanced votes received by the county clerks office was previously 864 in 2006 for the Gubernatorial General Election. This number was doubled Thursday as 1,601 total ballots had been cast.

"From federal to local, everyone is interested in this election," said Long.

Florida made national headlines Tuesday when Governor Charlie Crist extended early voting hours across the state to 12 hours a day.

The executive order was signed after record early voting turnout contributed to long lines at polling sites.

Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours a day each weekday and for a total of eight hours during the weekends.

While Bourbon County residents may not have to worry about waiting in lines for several hours to vote, Long believes many are looking to avoid election day delays.

"I think people are trying to avoid lines on election day," she said. "And, many are worried about having something come up and not being able to vote."

Long expects the record setting number of votes to continue through election day, saying she would not be surprised if 80 percent of registered voters cast their ballots. This is about 25 percent more voters than average.

Referencing past election years, Long said, "I don't know that we have had any that have rivaled this one."

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Long had received 545 total walk-in votes and 516 mailed votes. Thursday alone the clerk's office received 190 ballots.

Residents of Bourbon County can vote on an advance ballot in the clerk's office, 210 S. National Ave., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Monday from 8:30 to noon.