By THOMAS P. WEAVER

HORIZON Editor

CLAY COUNTY-A busy election with numerous candidates vying for almost every local office has contributed to a big increase in the number of registered voters here who will begin casting ballots this Friday, July 16 when the early voting period begins.

Four years ago Clay County had just over 5,100 registered voters and that number had ballooned to just over 6,300 as the registration deadline passed last week, representing an increase of well over 20 percent.

The polls should be busy during the early voting period this month, because nearly half of the total number of residents who voted in the last election did so “early” four years ago.

July 16 through July 31 will be the early voting period this year. Coupled with absentee votes, these personal appearance votes will play a big role in determining the winners when the votes are finally totaled late on August 5.

Administrator of elections Wanda Daniels said there was a total of 3457 votes cast in the 2006 county general election, which was a turnout of roughly 67 percent of registered voters.

If that percentage holds true in 2010, a number approaching 4,500 could cast ballots this year, with well over half of the total vote coming in July before election day even rolls around.

Those wishing to cast their votes early can do so in Celina at the Election Commission office on Friday and every day thereafter, excluding Sundays, through Saturday, July 31.

The office is located in the Clay County Community Center at 145 Cordell Hull Drive in Celina and polls will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.

Sample ballot printed in HORIZON again this week

HORIZON publisher Jon Weaver made the decision to reprint the sample ballot this week as a service to the voters of Clay County and it can be found on page 7A of this newspaper.

“We thought it would be a good idea to give our readers another chance to familiarize themselves with the ballot since this election has so many candidates,” Weaver said.  “It’s a good representation of what voters will see when they go to the polls.”

See a future HORIZON information about early voting totals each week and more election coverage.