LITTLE ROCK — Since early voting for the Tuesday, May 20, primaries began Monday, Saline County has experienced a higher voter turnout than it did in May 2006.

“It surprised me,” said FreddieBurton, Saline County clerk. “We did expect a small voter turnout. We never anticipated this.”

Burton said that on the first day of early voting two years ago, 89 people voted.

This year, however, 360 people voted the first day, representing a300 percent increase.

There were strong numbers on Tuesday and Wednesday as well: 301 and 259, respectively.

Burton said he thinks that the number of local contested races, which include county judge, county sheriff and seats in the state Houseof Representatives, are responsible for getting Saline County residents to the voting booths in large numbers.

He added that he anticipates at least 4,000 of Saline County’s 60,000 registered voters to participate in early voting, which ends Monday, May 19.

This article was published Sunday, May 11, 2008.

Tri-Lakes, Pages 132 on 05/11/2008

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