By Kristin Rover
Sun staff
Clermont County Board of Elections will have early voting available the weekend before the election Nov. 1-2 this year.
Judy Miller, director of the board of elections, encouraged citizens to come vote that weekend and avoid the chaos of election day.
“We want to encourage people and let them know the board is open the last weekend before election day if they want to vote early,” Miller said. “They will avoid the long lines at the polls on election day.”
Miller said it is also nice to vote early in case something comes up on election day.
She said the office will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
“There will be in office voting from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday,” Miller said. “After that, if they want to vote they have to go to their polls.”
Miller said absentee and early voting in Clermont County began Oct. 7.
“It’s been a very light turnout for in-office voting,” Miller said.
She said absentee requests have also been light compared to what they were expecting.
“Right now we’ve had requests for 12,140,” Miller said. “About half.”
Miller said with absentee ballots it gives people more time to decide.
“A lot of people like to vote by mail because they have time to look up information,” Miller said. “It’s convenient and it gives them the opportunity to research.”
Miller said the absentee and early voting numbers are generally lower in Clermont County and it may be because voters like to go to the polls.
“That’s a compliment for our poll workers,” she said. “I think people down here generally like to go to polls.”
Miller said the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on election day.
For more information about the election and voting, visit www.clermontelections.org.