County Voter Turnout Steady, Absentee Voting Increases
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Voter turnout was steady this morning in Kosciusko County as voters cast their ballots in the general election.
Voting began at 6 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m.
Absentee voting ended at noon Monday with a total of 4,797 absentee votes, according to Chief Deputy Clerk Ann Torpy. That is a 2,178 increase over the 2,619 absentee votes in the 2004 election.Voters waited in line as early as 5:30 a.m. to cast their votes at Warsaw Ward 2, Precinct 2, at the Warsaw city building.
Phyllis Slone, Ward 2 Precinct 2 poll inspector, said there was a line of four people outside the city building at 5:30 a.m. waiting to vote and voters continued to vote throughout the morning.
"I have worked during other elections and have not seen as much interest in the past, so it's exciting to see this year," Slone said.
There also was a long line this morning at Warsaw Ward 5 for precincts 1, 2 and 3 at Center Lake Pavilion.
"We saw lines from the entrance of the pavilion out to the parking lot beginning at 6 a.m.," said Warren Tatter, Ward 5 Precinct 3 poll inspector.
Tatter said he has been a poll inspector for the past 17 to 20 years and said this morning's turnout has been the largest he has ever seen.
"I think the national election has sparked interest, and the nice weather has helped with voter turnout," Tatter said.
Donna Farris, 82, voted at Center Lake Pavilion this morning and said she was pleased with the turnout.
"I hope voters researched the candidates before voting," Farris said.
Voting for Warsaw Ward 1 Precincts 1 and 2, at United Pentecostal Church, Warsaw, was steady.
There were approximately 225 voters at the ward that had voted as of 8:30 a.m., according to poll inspector Ann Seward.
"There were lines outside beginning at 6 a.m. and we have seen a lot more young people voting and had more absentee voting this year," Seward said.
Voting also was brisk in Winona Lake this morning in Wayne Township at Wards 3 and 10 Precincts 2, 3 and 4 at the Gordon Recreation Center.
Karen Wildman, Winona Lake Ward 5 poll inspector, said this year's voter turnout has been larger than the other 20 years she has served as a poll inspector.
Felicity Lennox, Wayne Township voter, was 10th in line to vote at 8:45 a.m. and said this was the first year she had to wait in a line to vote.
"I dropped my twins off at day care and wanted to vote before I went to work. I think the turnout indicates the excitement that is happening across the country," Lennox said.
