ARCHBOLD WEATHER

New Record For Early Voting


 

 

Melanie Gilders, director of the Fulton County Board of Elections, said a new record for early in-person voting was set Monday, Oct. 26.

On that day, 422 voters arrived at the board office in Wauseon and cast ballots.

So far, she said, since early, in-person voting started on Tuesday, Oct. 6, there have been 4,935 ballots cast at the board office.

The total early vote, including absentee ballots mailed in or dropped off, is 10,264, roughly one third of the 29,554 registered voters in the county.

“That’s amazing,” Gilders said.

“As soon as we hit 11,400, and I’m sure we’ll do it, that will be more than double the total early vote in 2016.”

That year, about 5,700 people cast early votes, either in-person or by absentee ballot.

Of the 5,078 absentee ballots that were mailed out, 4,003 were returned by Tuesday morning, yesterday– about 79%.

Not all of those 5,078 ballots may be returned. Some to whom mail-in ballots were issued may vote early in-person, or on Election Day.

“Still, that’s a good percentage,” she said.

Hours

Early, in-person voting continues this week, with extended hours.

Through Friday, Oct. 30, voters can cast their ballots between 8 am-7 pm.

The office will be open Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 am-4 pm; Sunday, Nov. 1, 1-5 pm; and Monday, Nov. 2, 8 am-2 pm.

“We will cut it off at 2 pm,” Gilders said.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polling places across the state will be open 13 hours, from 6:30 am-7:30 pm.

Election Day

In general, for most people living in any of the three precincts in Archbold, or most of German Township, residents will go to the Archbold Knights of Columbus Hall to vote.

The Pettisville precinct, which encompasses the Pettisville School District, excluding a small portion of Dover Township, is at the Pettisville Park Pavilion.

Franklin Township votes at the Franklin Township Hall, St. Rt. 66 and Co. Rd. L.

Voters in Fayette and Gorham Township cast their ballots at the Fayette Nazarene Church.

Dover Township voters, including Tedrow, go to Tedrow Mennonite Church.

In Ridgeville Township, voters cast ballots at the Ridgeville American Legion.

Absentee

Gilders said, technically, absentee ballots can be requested by mail up until 12 noon, Saturday, Oct. 31.

But in order to be assured of receiving an absentee ballot, the recommended deadline is today, Wednesday.

If a mailed-out absentee ballot is returned directly to the board office, it must be either handed in or placed in the dropbox by 7:30 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

If an absentee ballot is mailed in, it must be postmarked no later than Nov. 2, and received at the board office by Nov. 13.