Early vote turnout called a success

If voting lines are manageable Tuesday, thank your neighbors who voted early.

Despite somewhat long lines at the polls, election officials are calling this year's two-week period of early voting a success.

As of Saturday evening, more than 330,000 Utahns had already voted in this year's presidential election, not counting provisional ballots.

That turnout has landed Utah election officials about where they wanted to be come Election Day: with 25 percent voter turnout.

In some counties, that percentage was even higher.

Early voting closed Friday at 5 p.m., and a voting report Saturday from the governor's office showed that more than 25 percent of active registered voters in Box Elder, Iron, Piute, Salt Lake and Weber counties have already voted.

In Daggett, Davis, Morgan, Summit, Tooele and Washington counties, voter turnout had eclipsed 30 percent. Summit County was leading the pack with 34.9 percent, followed by Davis at 33 percent.

"We're elated at these numbers," said Joseph Demma, chief of staff to Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, whose office administers Utah elections.

With 75 percent to 85 percent of voters expected to show up to the polls in this election, early voting percentages should take a bite out of the crowds Tuesday.

But it came at a price for some voters.

In Layton Wednesday, voters reported that lines had been so long on previous days that they were making a return visit and showed up an hour early to be at the front of the line.

But even with the early voting turnout, there will likely be lines at 7 a.m. when polls open Tuesday, said Davis County elections manager Pat Beckstead.

"It takes time to catch up and get rid of initial voters," she said.

During voting Thursday in Bountiful, the county saw a ratio of 64 voters per voting machine. On Election Day, that ratio is expected be closer to 115 people per machine.

But Demma said early voting wasn't designed only to eliminate people's waiting time. It was designed to let people vote at their convenience.

"Not everybody can wait for an hour and a half on Tuesday afternoon," Demma said.

Even though officials are calling this year's early vote a success, there are some improvements they may request from the Utah Legislature, including expanded hours and locations, Demma said.

And if you can't make it to the polls Tuesday, you can still vote by absentee ballot in person at most county clerk offices Monday.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com