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Highlands Today

Take Advantage Of Early Voting

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2008

Election Day is less than a month away, and it probably can't come soon enough for some folks.

The avalanche of campaign commercials on TV is getting old and the literature that comes in the mail is annoying.

But despite that there seems to be great interest in politics and not only on the national level.

This is an historic presidential election and that will likely attract a large turnout at the polls. There are those who believe it will be the most important election in quite some time.

According to Nielsen Media Research, more than 73 million people watched the vice presidential debate last Thursday between Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. It was the most-watched vice presidential debate.

The only debate that drew a larger TV audience took place in 1980 between President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Nearly 81 million viewers watched it.

Locally, the Biden-Palin debate was on people's minds. Those attending the Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet Thursday night were assured the event would conclude before the senator and governor uttered their first responses. Also, the Heartland Idol crowd was told they wouldn't miss any of the debate.

Of course the sheriff's race between Susan Benton and Ron Grimming has drawn a lot of attention. If the letters to the editor and guest columns that have run in this newspaper are any indication there are many people who are keenly interested in who will be the next sheriff in Highlands County.

It will be a busy ballot with a number of races and several amendments for voters to consider.
Elections officials have made it more convenient and that is good for voters.

Early voting for the general election begins Oct. 20 and continues through Nov. 1.

There is still time to register for those who want to do so, but the deadline is today.

If you are not sure whether you are registered to vote, call the Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Office at 402-6655. Those who have registered at a driver license office or another voter registration agency and don't recall receiving a voter information card should call as well to determine your status.

There is another way to vote before Nov. 4 - at least if you are a Republican. The Republican Party of Florida has sent out vote-by-mail request cards for absentee ballots. All that is required is the individual's signature and birth date. It will cost you 42 cents for a stamp.

We hope voters will take advantage of the opportunities to vote early and avoid the crowd.

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