By Barrett Newkirk, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — People hoping to save some time by voting before Election Day have had to deal with longer than expected lines at the Madison County Government Center.
As eager voters arrived on the building’s second floor Wednesday afternoon some were shocked to see a line more than 100 feet long and then hear that the wait time could be 90 minutes.
“I thought that voting early would take less time,” said Ruth Hall, Pendleton. “I wasn’t prepared for this.”
Hall came to vote with her daughter because her daughter will be at school all day Tuesday. She said despite the long wait she was glad to have done her part for this year’s election.
“It’s been the most publicized campaign that I can remember,” she said. “I’m actually kind of sick of it.”
Dozens of people had lined up to cast their ballots before voting began at 8 a.m. Wednesday, and already 3,507 people had submitted ballots in person since Oct. 6. Of the 5,914 mail-in ballots sent out by the county, 4,249 had been returned as of Wednesday.
The staff of the county election office reported that turnout had been steadily increasing. Friday was the peak day so far, with 421 ballots cast, and workers expected daily turnouts to be around 400 throughout this week.
County Election Director Mary Retherford attributed the high number of early voters to a hot presidential race and promotion of the early-voting option.
But the thousands of early voters beating Election Day polls won’t make Tuesday any easier for last-minute voters or her staff, Retherford said, and she couldn’t predict how long voters may have to wait at precinct polling sites Tuesday.
Jess Henry, Anderson, said he and his wife wanted to vote early because it was “kind of cool” and he “just thought it would be nice to get it over with.”
But when the Henrys saw the line outside the county clerk’s office, they opted to come back later in the day when the line would likely be shorter.
Jess Henry was excited, not discouraged, by the inconvenience.
“I’m 64, and I’ve never in my life been so excited over an election,” he said.
To cast an early ballot, registered voters must complete an absentee ballot application, wait to vote and then pick their favorite candidates on one of four machines set up in a small room near the clerk’s office.
“They needed 15 machines, not just four,” said June Griffith, Pendleton, who also said that the wait was not what she expected.
The wait frustrated at least one person Wednesday. Patricia Fedor, Anderson, said she had to vote early because she was leaving the county before Election Day, and because of a heart condition she couldn’t wait in line for 90 minutes.
“I think this is the most stupid thing to let them all vote early,” she said while preparing to leave without voting. “I’ve voted in almost every election since I was eligible, and I’m almost 78.”
She said she wouldn’t try again.
Early voting continues through Monday, Nov. 3, at the Madison County Government Center, 16 E. Ninth St., Anderson, second floor.
Thursday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday, 8 a.m. to noon
