Of those, 382 voted for the Republican ticket and 62 cast votes on the Democratic ballot. The number of early voters was lower than initially hoped as local voters faced cold, snow, wind and finally heavy rain during the early voting period.
“The weather was definitely a factor in the number of early voters who visited the courthouse,” said deputy clerk Shirley Gregory. “However, the pleasant weather on Friday brought the largest number of voters to the courthouse to vote early. It’s hard to predict how many we would have had through the week should the weather have cooperated.”
“Now we’re ready and looking forward to March 9,” said Gregory.
The only locally contested race Tuesday will be for the Republican nominee for county tax assessor-collector.
Megali Bernal and Jana Young are vying for the nomination for the office that Diana Williamson currently holds.
Williamson chose not to seek another term.
Both candidates currently work in the courthouse. Bernal works in the county clerk’s office while Young is employed in the tax assessor-collector’s office.
Advertisements for Bernal say she has been employed in the clerk’s office four years, while Young’s advertising says she has five years experience in the tax office.
Voters also have a choice in the District 11 state representative’s race as Midland resident Mike Conaway is vying for the post, as is Brownwood resident Bill Lester.
Republican voters will see the name of President George W. Bush on the ballot, while the Democratic ballot lists 10 candidates for president to include Randy Crow, Al Sharpton, Wesley K. Clark, John Edwards, John F. Kerry, Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean, Dennis J. Kucinich, Joe Lieberman and Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr.
Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.
Voters are encouraged to bring their voter registration cards to the polling places to expedite the process.