Record early voting turnout in Lowndes Co. - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Record early voting turnout in Lowndes Co.

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VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) -

We're still more than two weeks from election day, but voters are crowding into elections offices to cast their ballots.

Early voting turnout in Lowndes County has already set a record.

More than 6,000 people have voted.

Election officials expect half the county's registered voters will head to the polls before election day.

Cars sit backed up on Oak Street waiting to get into the Lowndes County Board of Elections parking lot. Elections officials say 10-percent of the county's 60,000 registered voters have already voted early.

"Its been like this everyday, so you know we're thrilled. It's just exactly right for us, we love it to be like this, we're taking care of people and it seems like record time," said Susan Hennly, Asst. Supervisor of Elections.

Many voters say they came to early voting to avoid long lines on election day, only to find they still had to wait.

"I was definitely shocked, I thought we'd be the first people here, we would get in really fast and wouldn't have trouble finding a parking place, and they have someone directing traffic. It's really different this year," said voter Aubrey Clanton.

The parking lot was consistently packed all afternoon. Last Friday nearly 1,500 people early, that number is expected to grow each day.

And the one thing on everyone's mind, the Presidential race.

"A lot of people have a lot of emotions about this election. Hard times for some people and they're looking for some change I think," said voter Rhonda Taylor.

"Because of the closeness of the race, you know the polls right now are neck in neck, and it could go either way," said another voter, Sharon Parker.

Hennly says the race for Lowndes County Sheriff is also bringing a big turnout.

"We have the incumbent Sheriff and we have his opponent who ran against him four years ago running, so it's kind of hotly contested too, so it'll be interesting to see how that race turns out," said Hennly.

Parker says it's exciting to see how many people are passionate about this election.

"They're not sitting back and waiting to see what happens, they're actually getting out and doing something about it."

Early voting will continue through November 2nd.

Every county in Georgia will also offer Saturday voting this Saturday the 27th.

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