MOUNT VERNON — Early voting began Tuesday at the Knox County Board of Elections, and with the importance of this year’s presidential election, many people have begun to take advantage of absentee voting. Over 100 residents of Knox County walked in on Tuesday to vote, and about 350 have already mailed in their ballots.
“We are expecting upward of 30 percent of the voters to vote absentee,” said Rita Yarman, director of the Knox County Board of Elections.
“We have been receiving requests for a long time and we have over 1,000 we’re processing to go out in the mail,” she said. “We do overseas and military ballots first, because it takes them longer to be delivered, then we send out all the other requests we receive.”
Voters can vote absentee up until the day of the election, explained Yarman.
“But to do it by mail, you need to do it immediately. We need to have time to get the request from you, mail the ballot to you and get it voted, and then get it back.”
The ballots are long — two pages front and back — so election officials are encouraging people to vote early due to the length of time needed to complete the Nov. 4 ballot.
“It is a really good idea for those not sure of all that is going to be on the ballot to get an absentee [ballot]. They can take it home, vote it, or, if they have time, come in here,” she said.
Yarman said members of the board of elections do not provide information on which issues to vote on, so voters should be prepared.
According to Yarman, a variety of people use absentee voting.
“Younger people with small children or both parents in a household who are working, they work out of town, they are in the medical profession, or people who work 10- to 12-hour days and if they travel very far to do that, the 13-hour window for the polls still isn’t enough for them,” said Yarman. “In my opinion, it really is the best way to vote.”
Yarman said when individuals take into consideration the possibilities of a busy schedule and unforeseen circumstances, one’s chances to vote are slim, but with absentee voting, they can make sure they vote.
“Not knowing if you are going to have scheduling problems, child care problems of when they are going to have to be picked up, and going to the polls,” she said, “even if there is a modest turnout, with the length of this ballot it is going to take folks a while to [complete] the ballot.”
In order to vote, one must be a registered voter. The last day to register is Oct. 6.
“Next Monday is the voter registration deadline, and we would like for people who had already moved to make sure they get their address changed. And if they are interested in an absentee ballot, we can also help them about getting that,” said Yarman.
On Monday, the board of elections will be open until 9 p.m.; thereafter, hours of operation will return to normal, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voters can also register to vote at any public library and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
