Quarter of county votes already in

Whether for reasons of convenience, health or politics, more people than ever before are casting their votes before election day this year. Crook County has followed the nationwide trend, with a quarter of votes already cast.

Reports suggest that nearly 90% of the total number of absentee votes cast for the last presidential election have already been cast nationwide. In Crook County, however, absentee votes have long since outpaced the number that were cast for in 2016.

“We’re bigger than we’ve ever had before,” says County Clerk Linda Fritz.

A total of 1259 absentee votes were sent out this year, either through the mail or to voters who have visited the courthouse. That represents 31% of the voters in Crook County.

So far, 958 of them have come back – a return rate of 76%. That means a total of 24% of the county’s votes were already in with plenty of time still remaining before election day.

“Since 1998, I’ve never seen numbers this big,” she says.

To put that number in perspective, Fritz shares that, for the last presidential election in 2016, a total of 842 ballots were sent out and 817 were received back.

Even the county’s total number of voters is at higher levels than usual, Fritz says. An additional 196 people have been added to the voter rolls since the primary election, bringing the total number to 4003.

Of course, that does leave plenty of Crook County residents to make their choices known on election day itself, and Fritz is expecting an excellent turnout.

“There are a lot of people who really, really want to go to the polls,” she says.

Fritz kindly requests that voters refrain from disruptive behavior when they go to the polls on election day.

“Even though people are passionate about this election, they can’t wear anything to the polls that promotes one candidate over the other,” she says. “It has to be a complete nonpartisan polling place and the judges will ask you to remove your hat, turn your t-shirt inside out or whatever it is. Please be respectful when you go to cast your vote and you can talk about it once you’re done.”

Fritz also asks that voters please wear a mask for the short time you are at the polling station as a courtesy to the judges, who will be working a 14-hour day.