ELECTION DAY UPDATE: Voter enthusiasm continues
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Nov. 5, 2024) – Tuscarawas County voting officials say Election Day has been exceeding expectations.
Board of Elections Director Gail Garbrandt says about 11,000 people voted in the county this morning, following the approximately 9,000 voters who cast a ballot during the 30-day early voting period.
“It’s been a really, really busy day so far,” said Garbrandt. “We had a really busy early voting four weeks, and so I kind of thought that maybe we wouldn’t be as busy this morning.”
Garbrandt says the participation is encouraging.
“I love it because I think it’s really good for democracy that people are paying attention,” she said.
She reminds voters the polls are open until 7:30 p.m. and it could be a while before the votes are counted for the unofficial results.
“I think it’s going to be a long night just because of the volume of what we’re going to have to go through, but it is a chore that we relish,” Garbrandt said.
Garbrandt says the courthouse is only taking provisional voters today, for those who forgot to update any name or address change with the board office.
She also says voters must remember to bring the proper ID to the polls.
“It’s going to be a big turnout, it really is,” said Garbrandt.