This year’s mid-term election has produced a record number of Jackson County voters casting ballots ahead of Tuesday’s general election.

That doesn’t include any voters who choose to vote today, Saturday and Monday.

As of Wednesday, 3,198 voters had cast ballots for the election, which represents nearly 12 percent of registered voters, county Clerk Amanda Lowery said.

In 2016, 1,841 or 17 percent of the 29,470 registered voters cast absentee ballots in the general election. Four years earlier in 2012, 2,085 or 15 percent of the 28,269 registered voters cast absentee ballots.

Lowery said more than 100 voters have cast ballots at Seymour’s polling site at Jackson Superior Court I each day since it opened Oct. 22, with the exception of one.

Brownstown’s polling site in the courthouse has seen between 60 and 70 voters each day since the polling site in Seymour opened. Prior to that, Brownstown had several 100-voter days since opening on Oct. 9.

“In contrast, we voted just under 4,200 in the 2016 general election,” Lowery said.

That is significant because the 2016 general election is a presidential year, when turnout is often higher.

Early voting has far outpaced the 1,841 voters who cast a ballot early in 2014. The election that year did not feature a U.S. Senate race.

The numbers have prompted Lowery to add staff Tuesday night.

“We’re actually going to be adding another team to count the ballots on election night,” she said. The clerk’s office used 10 teams in 2016 and planned to use five this election cycle.

“I think I’m going to bring in 12,” she said.

The numbers for early voting may suggest a higher turnout for midterm election than in previous years.

“I think we will see higher numbers than normal for a midterm election,” Lowery said. “I don’t know that there will be lines out the door, but I think it will be larger.”

She said there are a number of reasons for the increase. First, Lowery believes candidates have pushed for it as they’ve campaigned.

“You just see more campaigns encouraging voters to vote early,” she said, who is on the ballot herself as a candidate for recorder.

Lowery thinks the hotly contested U.S. Senate race between Democrat incumbent Joe Donnelly and Republican challenger Mike Braun could be pushing turnout locally. Libertarian Lucy Brenton also is on the ballot.

There’s at least one local race that may push turnout a little higher than recent elections. That’s the race for Jackson County Sheriff between Democrat Jeff Walters and Republican Rick Meyer.

The race for the county’s top law enforcement official generally is of interest to voters, Lowery said.

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You can still vote early for the 2018 general election.

Brownstown

Where: Jackson County Courthouse, 111 S. Main St., Brownstown

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon Monday.

Seymour

Where: Jackson Superior Court I, 1420 Corporate Way, Seymour

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon Monday.

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Absent balloting for mid-term elections

Year;absentee votes;pct.

2018; 3,198;incomplete

2014;1,841;17

2010;2,085;15

2006;1,572;11

2002;859;7

1998;NA;NA

1994;7286.3

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