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Highlands Today

Two-Thirds Of Registered Voters Cast Ballot So Far

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: November 4, 2008

SEBRING - More than 10,500 Highlands County voters cast their ballots by 2 p.m. today, bringing the total percentage of votes cast so far to 60 percent.

10,671 people voted today as of 2 p.m., said an official with the Highlands County Supervisor of Elections.

Polls close at 7 p.m. in the 25 polling stations countywide.

Voting was steady during the day, and no long lines were seen. About 40 percent of registered voters had cast early and absentee ballots.

Many candidates spent the day making the rounds of the different polling places.

Clerk of Courts candidate Bob Germaine hoped to hit all 25. So did Sheriff Susan Benton, who is running for re-election against Republican Ron Grimming.

Some of the voters also took the extra step to cast their ballots.

Ron Klausen rode his wheelchair five blocks to the Church of Christ in Sebring, where the precinct 25 voting is taking place.

Klausen was going to stay tuned to his TV as late as he needed to "until somebody wins."

So was Jerry Perry of Avon Park.

"It's just like the Superbowl," he smiled.

So far, one vote scanning machine has malfunctioned. It happened in precinct 16, which is in Avon Park Lakes.

"But, we had two scanners set up so people kept voting," said Norma Stokes, assistant supervisor at the Highlands County Elections Office .

The canvassing board began scanning the absentee ballots into a tabulator Saturday and will continue doing so until 7 p.m.

The results of absentee ballots will not be released until after 7 p.m., Stokes said.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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