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The Red River Sun/Bev Odom
Voters hurry into Collingsworth County Courthouse from the left entrance late last Friday afternoon.
By Bev Odom/The Red River Sun—
WELLINGTON — Early voting numbers typically total 300 to 400 in the two weeks prior to a presidential election, but this year is an exception.
“We’ve already had 314 in person votes and 58 mail-in ballots for a total of 372,” Jackie Johnson, Collingsworth County/District Clerk, said last Friday at closing time. “We’ve had a bigger turnout so far and have received 58 of the 85 ballots that we’ve emailed out.”
Early voting continues through Friday, Oct. 30, and the courthouse staff is following coronavirus protocol to encourage voters to go ahead and cast ballots early.
“Even though we aren’t required to, a lot of voters are choosing to wear masks to vote even though it’s not a requirement here,” Johnson added. “We have masks available outside the door, and we sanitize pens after each use to keep everyone safe.”
Wellington Independent School District has seen a surge in voters this election as well.
“I think the school board is an important election too,” said Dian Souder, business manager. “People are getting out to vote for president and coming here, too.”
By 5 p.m. Oct. 16, 126 voters had cast their ballot for in the school board trustee race.
As far as pandemic protocol, Souder said not many show up at the same time.
“But we have six-foot markers placed outside the business office, and only allow two voters in at a time.”
